Suture anchor fixation for scaphoid nonunions with small proximal fragments: report of 11 cases

High Rate of Union of Scaphoid Pseudoarthrosis Treated With Arthroscopic Olecranon Bone Graft Using Antegrade Percutaneous Headless Compression Screw

PURPOSE

To assess the healing rate of scaphoid pseudoarthrosis treated with wrist arthroscopy, olecranon bone graft, and anterograde screw fixation, as well as evaluate complications and clinical and radiologic outcomes.

METHODS

All patients with scaphoid nonunion were selected between January 2017 and December 2022. Inclusion criteria were patients between 18 and 60 years of age, a diagnosis of scaphoid pseudoarthrosis, complete clinical patient-reported outcomes, radiographic measurements, and at least a 1-year follow-up. Scaphoid pseudoarthrosis was treated arthroscopically with olecranon bone graft and anterograde screw fixation. Clinical assessment was performed through visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, QuickDASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand) questionnaire, wrist range of motion using a standard goniometer, and grip strength in kilograms with a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer. Clinical relevance was measured with the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for VAS and QuickDASH. Scapholunate angle was measured. Union was assessed on a computed tomography scan.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients were included with a mean follow-up of 17.2 months. The mean age was 30.1 years, and the average time from injury to arthroscopic surgery was 11.1 months. At latest follow-up, there was an improvement in VAS pain score and QuickDASH score. Range of motion and grip strength increased at last follow-up. MCID threshold for the VAS and QuickDASH score was reached by 100% and 94.1%, respectively. Union was achieved in 16 patients (94.1%) after a median of 16 weeks (interquartile range, 16-20).

CONCLUSIONS

Arthroscopic treatment of scaphoid pseudoarthrosis with olecranon bone graft and antegrade percutaneous headless compression screw allows a high grade of union and improves pain and function at short-term follow-up.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Predictors of Failure for Vascularized and Nonvascularized Bone Grafting of Scaphoid Nonunions: A Systematic Review

Objective  This article compares predictors of failure for vascularized (VBG) and nonvascularized bone grafting (NVBG) of scaphoid nonunions. Methods  We conducted a systematic literature review of outcomes after VBG and NVBG of scaphoid nonunion. Fifty-one VBG studies ( N  = 1,419 patients) and 81 NVBG studies ( N  = 3,019 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected on surgical technique, type of fixation, time from injury to surgery, fracture location, abnormal carpal posture (humpback deformity and/or dorsal intercalated segmental instability [DISI]), radiographic parameters of carpal alignment, prior failed surgery, smoking status, and avascular necrosis (AVN) as defined by punctate bleeding, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast, MRI without contrast, X-ray, and histology. Meta-analysis of proportions was conducted with Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation. Multilevel mixed-effects analyses were performed with univariable and multivariable Poisson regression to identify confounders and evaluate predictors of failure. Results  The pooled failure incidence effect size was comparable between VBG and NVBG (0.09 [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.05-0.13] and 0.08 [95% CI 0.06-0.11], respectively). Humpback deformity and/or DISI (incidence-rate radios [IRRs] 1.57, CI: 1.04-2.36) and lateral intrascaphoid angle (IRR 1.21, CI: 1.08-1.37) were significantly associated with an increased VBG failure incidence. Time from injury to surgery (IRR 1.09, CI: 1.06-1.12) and height-to-length (H/L) ratio (IRR 53.98, CI: 1.16-2,504.24) were significantly associated with an increased NVBG failure incidence, though H/L ratio demonstrated a wide CI. Decreased proximal fragment contrast uptake on MRI was a statistically significant predictor of increased failure incidence for both VBG (IRR 2.03 CI: 1.13-3.66) and NVBG (IRR 1.39, CI: 1.16-1.66). Punctate bleeding or radiographic AVN, scapholunate angle, radiolunate angle, and prior failed surgery were not associated with failure incidence for either bone graft type ( p > 0.05). Conclusion  Humpback deformity and/or DISI and increasing lateral intrascaphoid angle may be predictors of VBG failure. Time from injury to surgery may be a predictor of NVBG failure. AVN as defined by decreased contrast uptake on MRI may be a marker of increased failure risk for both bone graft types.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Scaphoid Nonunion With Olecranon Bone Graft and Screw Fixation Leads to Union and Improved Outcomes

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcomes of arthroscopic treatment of scaphoid nonunion using olecranon bone graft and screw fixation and to analyze the outcomes in accordance with variations in the chronicity, location, and severity of nonunion.

METHODS

Between March 2012 and December 2020, patients with diagnoses of scaphoid delayed nonunion and nonunion with substantial bone resorption (Slade and Dodds grade IV-VI) underwent arthroscopic-assisted olecranon bone graft and screw fixation. Preoperative and postoperative measurements included the visual analog scale score for pain; range of motion; grip strength; the Modified Mayo Wrist Score; the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score; and the minimal clinically important difference for the DASH score. Union rate and duration were also evaluated. The outcomes between groups of patients with different conditions were analyzed.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were included. The average follow-up period was 32.5 months. The visual analog scale pain score, range of motion, grip strength, Modified Mayo Wrist Score, and DASH score were significantly improved after surgery (P < .001). The minimal clinically important difference threshold for the DASH score was reached by 100% of patients. At final follow-up, all patients had united scaphoid with no complications. The average time to union was 15.3 weeks. Group analysis showed significant improvements in mean grip strength between patients with delayed union (3-6 months) and those with chronic nonunion (> 1 year) (17.75 kg vs 12.25 kg, P = .032), between grade IV nonunion and grade V nonunion (14.86 kg vs 10.43 kg, P = .035), and between grade V nonunion and grade VI nonunion (10.43 kg vs 15.63 kg, P = .013). Patients with grade VI nonunion achieved union at 17.8 weeks postoperatively, a significantly longer period than that for patients with grade IV nonunion (11.4 weeks, P = .014).

CONCLUSIONS

Arthroscopic treatment of scaphoid nonunion using olecranon bone graft and screw fixation provided satisfactory outcomes regardless of the chronicity, location, and severity of nonunion.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Headless screw fixation through the dorsal rough surface for proximal-pole scaphoid-nonunion: a report of 15 patients

Clinical outcomes of the dorsal-retrograde headless screw-fixation technique in 15 patients with proximal scaphoid nonunion are presented. In this technique, screws are inserted from the dorsal rough surface of the scaphoid, located between the dorsal ridge and scaphoid-trapezium-trapezoid joint. Fifteen patients underwent osteosynthesis with this technique with iliac bone graft. Seven patients required primary surgery, and eight patients with a history of failed operation required revision surgery. Among 15 patients, 13 achieved union and two with persistent nonunion were asymptomatic with average follow-up of 24 months (range 14-57). Mean time to union was 20 weeks (range 12-40). Our experience with the dorsal-retrograde headless screw fixation technique has shown encouraging results for the treatment of proximal-scaphoid nonunion, especially in revision surgery wherein secure fixation of the small proximal fragments can be difficult using conventional anterograde techniques.Level of evidence: IV.

Surgical management of ulnar styloid fractures: comparison of fixation with anchor suture and tension band wire

BACKGROUND

Limited reference is available regarding surgical management in symptomatic ulnar styloid fractures with small bony avulsion. The study goal is to report the surgical outcomes using anchor suture fixation with comparison to traditional tension band wire fixation.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records in patients who underwent surgical repair for unilateral ulnar styloid fractures with distal radioulnar instability between 2004 and 2017. A total of 31 patients were enrolled including two kinds of fixation methods. Anchor suture fixation plus distal radioulnar joint pinning was performed in ten patients with tiny avulsion bony fragments (group A); tension band wire fixation was performed in 21 patients with big styloid fracture fragments (group B). Patient characteristics and 2-year treatment outcomes were compared between two groups based on Mayo Modified Wrist Score (MMWS); Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH); visual analog scale (VAS), and surgical complication. Descriptive statistics were used for calculation of key variables; a p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Based on Gaulke classification, there were five subtypes in group A and three subtypes in group B. Incidence of concomitant distal radius fractures was significantly higher in group B; other patient characteristics including age, sex, injury side, and time to surgery showed no significant difference. Outcome assessment regarding MMWS, QuickDASH, and VAS was comparable between two groups. Bone-related complications including nonunion, DRUJ subluxation, and styloid resorption were analyzed; the difference was not significant. Incidence of implant-related complications including migration and secondary removal surgery was significantly higher in group B (p = 0.021).

CONCLUSION

Surgical fixation in symptomatic ulnar styloid fractures yields comparable treatment outcomes in both fracture patterns. Implant-related complication with secondary removal surgery is more common in tension band wire group. Anchor suture fixation is a feasible option for tiny styloid avulsion fragments with limited surgical complication.

Micro Screw Fixation for Small Proximal Pole Scaphoid Fractures with Distal Radius Bone Graft

Background  Achieving adequate fixation and healing of small proximal pole acute scaphoid fractures can be surgically challenging due to both fragment size and tenuous vascularity. Purpose  The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that this injury can be managed successfully with osteosynthesis using a "micro" small diameter compression screw with distal radius bone graft with leading and trailing screw threads less than 2.8 mm. Patients and Methods  Patients with proximal pole scaphoid fragments comprising less than 20% of the entire scaphoid were included. Fixation was accomplished from a dorsal approach with a micro headless compression screw and distal radius bone graft. Six patients were included. Average follow-up was 44 months (range, 11-92). Results  Mean proximal pole fragment size was 14% (range, 9-18%) of the entire scaphoid. The mean immobilization time was 6 weeks, time-to-union of 6 weeks, and final flexion/extension arc of 88°/87°. All patients had a successful union, and no patient had deterioration in range of motion, avascular necrosis, or fragmentation of the proximal pole. Conclusion  Small diameter screws with a maximal thread diameter of ≤ 2.8 mm can be used to fix the union of proximal pole acute scaphoid fractures comprising less than 20% of the total area with good success. Level of Evidence  Therapeutic case series, Level IV.