Dorsal approach to scaphoid nonunion
Watson HK.
Pitts EC.
Ashmead D 4th.
Makhlouf MV.
Kauer J.
J Hand Surg Am.
18(2):359-65, 1993 Mar.
The surgical approach for treatment of scaphoid nonunion usually involves
various combinations of screws and Kirschner wires, with or without bone
grafts. This article reports our results with 36 dorsal-approach bone
grafting procedures for treatment of scaphoid nonunion with Kirschner
wires. Union was achieved in 89%. The average follow-up was 5 years.
Flexion/extension averaged 76% of the opposite wrist, and grip strength
was 88% of the opposite hand. Ninety-one percent of the employed patients
returned to their original jobs. The dorsal approach provides satisfactory
exposure for fragment reduction and bone grafting.
Original Text by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD.
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