Further experience with the index metacarpal vascularized bone graft

We report our experience in the use of a vascularized bone graft harvested from the head of the index metacarpal to treat scaphoid nonunion after failure of other techniques. Only 15 patients were treated between 1988 and 1994, showing the scarcity of indications for the operation. Union was obtained in 14 cases but the functional results were acceptable in ten cases only. This was due to previously unnoticed degenerative lesions.