Abstract
Background/Aims
Scaphoid non-union causes osteoarthritis but factors associated are poorly understood.
We investigated the rate of osteoarthritis after scaphoid fracture non-union, and
if duration and fracture location influenced arthritis and its severity.
Methods
This retrospective cross-sectional observational study of 278 consecutive cases with
scaphoid fracture non-union retrieved data on demographics, non-union duration, fracture
location, dorsal intercalated segment instability (DISI), severity and distribution
of wrist arthritis. Patient Evaluation Measure (PEM) and Quality of Life assessed
impact on patients. Regression models investigated prediction of osteoarthritis by
different variables. Time-to-event analysis investigated osteoarthritis evolution.
Missing (MAR) data for the PEM and QoL was imputed and analysed.
Results
278 patients, 246 males, aged 27.9 years (range 11 to 78 years), with a scaphoid fracture
non-union confirmed on computed tomography (CT) scans (243) and plain radiographs
(35) were reviewed. The interval between injury and imaging was 3.3 years (SD 5.9
years; range 0.1–45). The fracture was proximal to the ridge in 162, distal to the
ridge in 83 and in the proximal 20% in 33. DISI (RLA ≥ 10°) occurred in 93.5% (260/278).
Osteoarthritis was identified in 62.2% (173/278), and we classified a SNAC pattern
in 93.6% (162/173). Of these, 100 (61.7%) had SNAC 1, 22 (13.6%) SNAC 2, 17 (10.5%)
SNAC 3, and 23 (14.2%) SNAC 4. The mean duration in years for SNAC 1, 2, 3 and 4 were
2.5, 6.0, 8.2, and 11.3 years respectively. In fractures proximal to the ridge, 50%
had arthritis in 2.2 years. Whereas in proximal pole, and distal to the ridge, 50%
developed in 3.8 and 6.6 years, respectively. The PEM score was 42.8% (SD 18.9%) in
those without arthritis and 48.8% (SD 21.5%) in those with arthritis. The mean QoL
was 0.838 in patients without SNAC and 0.792 with SNAC.
Conclusion
Scaphoid fracture non-union caused early carpal collapse, majority had osteoarthritis
usually observed within a year following injury and occurred earliest in proximal
waist fractures. Distribution of osteoarthritis (SNAC stage) may not always follow
a distinctive pattern, as previously described.
Keywords
Abbreviations:
SNAC (Scaphoid Non-union Advanced Collapse), DISI (Dorsal Intercalated Segment Instability), CT (Computerised Tomography), QoL (Quality of Life), PEM (Patient Evaluation Measure), RSJd (Radioscaphoid Joint distal to fracture), RSJp (Radioscaphoid Joint proximal to fracture), SCJ (Scaphocapitate Joint), CLJ (Capitolunate Joint), RLJ (Radiolunate Joint), MPR (Multiplanar reconstruction)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 24, 2022
Accepted:
December 22,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
