Factors associated with union time of acute middle-third scaphoid fractures: an observational study

The incidence of surgical intervention following a suspected scaphoid fracture

Aims

The underlying natural history of suspected scaphoid fractures (SSFs) is unclear and assumed poor. There is an urgent requirement to develop the literature around SSFs to quantify the actual prevalence of intervention following SSF. Defining the risk of intervention following SSF may influence the need for widespread surveillance and screening of SSF injuries, and could influence medicolegal actions around missed scaphoid fractures.

Methods

Data on SSF were retrospectively gathered from virtual fracture clinics (VFCs) across a large Scottish Health Board over a four-year period, from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2021. The Bluespier Electronic Patient Record System identified any surgical procedure being undertaken in relation to a scaphoid injury over the same time period. Isolating patients who underwent surgical intervention for SSF was performed by cross-referencing the unique patient Community Health Index number for patients who underwent these scaphoid procedures with those seen at VFCs for SSF over this four-year period.

Results

In total, 1,739 patients were identified as having had a SSF. Five patients (0.28%) underwent early open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). One patient (0.06%) developed a nonunion and underwent ORIF with bone grafting. All six patients undergoing surgery were male (p = 0.005). The overall rate of intervention following a SSF was 0.35%. The early intervention rate in those undergoing primary MRI was one (0.36%), compared with three in those without (0.27%) (p > 0.576).

Conclusion

Surgical intervention was rare following a SSF and was not required in females. A primary MRI policy did not appear to be associated with any change in primary or secondary intervention. These data are the first and largest in recent literature to quantify the prevalence of surgical intervention following a SSF, and may be used to guide surveillance and screening pathways as well as define medicolegal risk involved in missing a true fracture in SSFs.

CSR-Net: Cross-Scale Residual Network for multi-objective scaphoid fracture segmentation

The scaphoid is located in the carpals. Owing to the body structure and location of the scaphoid, scaphoid fractures are common and it is difficult to heal. Three-dimensional reconstruction of scaphoid fracture can accurately display the fracture surface and provide important support for the surgical plan involving screw placement. To achieve this goal, in this study, the cross-scale residual network (CSR-Net) is proposed for scaphoid fracture segmentation. In the CSR-Net, the features of different layers are used to achieve fusion through cross-scale residual connection, which realizes scale and channel conversions between the features of different layers. It can establish close connections between different scale features. The structures of the output layer and channel are designed to establish the CSR-Net as a multi-objective architecture, which can realize scaphoid fracture and hand bone segmentations synchronously. In this study, 65 computed tomography images of scaphoid fracture are tested. Quantitative metrics are used for assessment, and the results obtained show that the CSR-Net achieves higher performance in hand bone and scaphoid fracture segmentations. In the visually detailed display, the fracture surface is clearer and more intuitive than those obtained from other methods. Therefore, the CSR-Net can achieve accurate and rapid scaphoid fracture segmentation. Its multi-objective design provides not only an accurate digital model, but also a prerequisite for navigation in the hand bone.

DEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL PROFILE OF ADULT PATIENTS WITH SCAPHOID FRACTURES IN POPULATION OF DISTRICT D.I.KHAN, PAKISTAN

Background: Scaphoid fractures are common and account for 60-70 % of all carpal fractures. The objectives of this study were to determine the demographic and clinical profiles of adult patients with scaphoid fractures in population of District D.I.Khan, Pakistan. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Orthopedics, Gomal Medical College, D.I.Khan, Pakistan from January 2015 to December 2019. Sample size was 40. Demographic variables were sex, age groups and time to presentation in weeks. Research variables were; cause, laterality, site, management options, time to union in months and presence of infection. All variables were categorical and analyzed by count and percentages for sample and as CI at 80% CL for proportion for population using Wilson score for binomial distribution. Results: Forty patients included 34 (85%) men & 16 (15%) women, 24 (60%) in 17-30 and 16 (40%) in age group 31-50 years. Time to presentation was ≤1 week of injury in 19 (47.5%) patients and 21 (52.5%) presented later. Cause was fall on out-stretched hand in 27 (67.5%) and RTA in 13 (32.5%) patients. Right hand was involved in 29 (72.5%), left in 9 (22.5%) while bilateral in 2 (5%) patients. Site of fracture was waist in 24 (60%), proximal pole 11 (27.5%) and distal pole 5 (12.5%) cases. Conservative treatment was done in 7 (17.50%) patients, percutaneous screw fixation 7 (17.50%), open reduction and internal fixation through palmar in 11 (27.50%) and though dorsal 15 (37.50%) cases. Time to union was ≤3 in 7 (17.50%), >3-6 months 29 (72.5%), while >6 months in 4 (10%) patients. Presence of infection was 1/40 (2.38%). Conclusion: Scaphoid fractures are more common in men and younger adults and most are presented within a week of injury. These are caused mostly by fall on outstretched hand, involving right hand and involving waist. Substantial number of cases requires open reduction with internal fixation. Mostly unite in 3-6 months.