Minos Ε. Tyllianakis MD, PhD

Scaphoid belongs to the wrist bones and is the most fractured. It usually occurs between 20 and 40 years of age. Proximal fractures (closer to the elbow) have the worst prognosis.

Most scaphoid fractures can be successfully treated conservatively (with plaster cast for 8 weeks to 6 months). However, surgical treatment is preferable because postoperative immobilization is not required, the patient returns to work early and the rate of complications is lower. Specially designed screws are used.

I use minimal invasive techniques and insert the screw(s) through very small incisions (1 cm). The advantages are no trauma to the subcutaneous tissues, no further devascularization and immediate postoperative mobilization with no cast or splint.

However, due to peculiar vascularity of the scaphoid, 2 serious complications can be encountered in the healing process: delayed union or non-union and avascular necrosis of the proximal part of the scaphoid. They are both treated with various types of bone grafts in the setting of sophisticated surgical techniques.