Treatment of proximal scaphoid waist nonunions with vascularized bone graft from the distal radius or medial femoral condyle

Abstract

Fractures of the proximal scaphoid waist are more prone to nonunion than distal scaphoid fractures. Thirty-nine patients (five females, 34 males; mean age 31 years) who had operation for proximal scaphoid waist nonunion between 2017 and 2020 were retrospectively analysed. Patients received a free vascularized medial femoral condyle graft (Group 1: 18 patients) or distal radial bone graft based on a 1,2 intercompartmental supraretinacular artery pedicle (Group 2: 21 patients). In Group 1, union was achieved in 17 of 18 cases, with mean time to union of 13 weeks and mean operation time was 221 minutes. In Group 2, union was achieved in 19 of 21 cases, with mean time to union of 15 weeks and mean operation time was 100 minutes. The radiological and functional results of both groups were similar. We recommend a distal radial bone graft based on the 1,2 intercompartmental supraretinacular artery pedicle for proximal scaphoid waist nonunions since the operation is shorter, technically more manageable and requires less microsurgical experience. Level of evidence: III