The impact of previous surgery on scaphoid nonunion reconstruction: a retrospective study of 95 cases

Abstract

We retrospectively compared 64 scaphoid reconstructions in cases that had not undergone previous surgery with 31 cases in which previous surgery had been performed. The characteristics of the groups were similar except that there were more smokers in the group without previous surgery and a more frequent use of vascularized bone grafts in the group with previous surgery. At final follow-up, 66 and 65 months, respectively, after reconstruction, union incidence was 89% and 90%. In patients with previous surgery, grip strength was higher but not when expressed in percent of the contralateral hand. There were no differences in pinch strength, active wrist motion, functional scores, carpal height or scapholunate angle. We conclude that repeat surgery to the scaphoid did not seem to be a major risk factor for the overall outcomes, keeping in mind that a vascularized bone graft was more frequently used for secondary reconstructions. Level of evidence: III