Abstract
The scaphoid is the carpal bone that most often fractures, accounting for up to 70%
of carpal fractures and 11% of hand fractures. It is the second most common arm fracture,
only surpassed by fractures of the distal radius. Despite being so common, these fractures
can be difficult to diagnose and treat due to the anatomic and physiological particularities
of the bone, including its precarious vascularization, its complex three-dimensional
structure, and its ligament connections, which greatly contribute to the risk of complications
such as malunion, pseudoarthrosis and avascular necrosis. Although there are many
published studies on the treatment of these injuries, there is still controversy over
what is the most suitable one for certain fracture types. The present article is a
comprehensive and updated review of the literature. Combining strategies for clinical
and radiological diagnosis, we propose a complete algorithm for the diagnosis of scaphoid
fractures based on the varying availability of resources, and we also describe the
most appropriate therapeutic approach for the different types of acute fractures of
this bone.
Keywords
scaphoid fracture - carpus - wrist - scaphoid - carpal fractures
