A 22-year-old chronic scaphoid non-union treated with arthroscopic percutaneous scaphoid fixation – A case report and review of literature

Abstract

Scaphoid fractures are the most common fractures of the carpal bone. Most heal with adequate conservative treatment, but reports of non-union after conservative treatment have been up to 50%. Symptomatic non-union of a scaphoid fracture remains a common disabling problem. It is known that the scaphoid non-union will inevitably progress to the scaphoid non-union advance collapse over time. Surgical management of chronic non-union of scaphoid fracture includes vascularized bone grafting or non-vascularized bone grafting with or without internal fixation. A 36-year-old male presented with a hyperextension injury to the left little finger. An X-ray showed left little finger distal interphalangeal joint dislocation and an incidental 22-year-old chronic non-union scaphoid fracture. To date, incidental discovery of non-union is at the rate of 0.14%. The patient underwent arthroscopic non-vascularized bone grafting with internal fixation after the natural course of the condition was explained to him. He made a good recovery with a complete union of his scaphoid and resolution of his wrist pain. Our case describes the first case of arthroscopic repair of a chronic non-union scaphoid fracture of 22-year duration and demonstrates union of scaphoid fracture and resolution of symptoms can be achieved with good surgical fixation even extremely prolonged chronic non-union.