Carpal alignment after different surgical approaches to the scaphoid: a comparative study

Thirty-seven patients with inlay bone grafting for scaphoid nonunion were evaluated before and after operation for wrist function and carpal alignment. There were 26 in whom a palmar approach had been used. The remaining 11 had been treated with a dorsal approach. The two procedures showed a similar union rate (around 80%). The palmar approach, however, caused a significant increase in the scapholunate angle (p less than 0.001) and in the lunocapitate angle (p less than 0.05) and consequently augmented carpal collapse. The dorsal approach did not affect carpal alignment. The surgical division of the palmar radiocarpal ligaments, which is necessary when using a palmar approach, may be responsible for these findings. Accordingly, a dorsal approach should be preferable to a palmar approach when a graft is used for treatment of a scaphoid nonunion.