Surgical treatment by percutaneous anterior screw fixation of scaphoid fractures

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of percutaneous screw fixation of scaphoid waist fractures in our surgery unit by comparing them with recent data from the literature. This was a retrospective, descriptive study conducted between January 2010 and September 2016. Patients operated due to a recent scaphoid fracture and treated by percutaneous anterograde screw fixation with a Herbert screw were included in this study. Our cohort was a sub-set from a scaphoid fracture group; other fracture sites, other treatment techniques and fractures associated with scapholunate ligament lesions were excluded. The time to union and union rate were recorded. The Youm and McMurtry indices, scaphoid and scapholunate angles were measured on radiographs. A total of 21 patients were included. The mean age was 30 years (18–44) and the sex ratio (male/female) was 9.5. The union rate was 95% with an average follow-up of 24 months. Four patients had a mobility deficit in the sagittal plane of about 9°. No malunion was found, and no major complications were observed. Based on this study, percutaneous fixation of the scaphoid with Herbert's screw is a reliable technique that leads to union in most cases with limited postoperative immobilization.