[Pediatric scaphoid fractures--treatment and prognosis]

From 1990 to 1994, we treated 28 children aged eight to fourteen years, with a scaphoid fracture. In eight of them, the initially suspected fracture could not be verified by X-ray earlier than two weeks after the injury. Eleven more patients--after false initial suspect of fracture--were discharged after two weeks without any complaints and negative X-ray control. These were not included in the series. Patients with radiologically evident fracture or clinically typical history and symptoms of scaphoid fracture--even without positive X-ray--were treated by below-elbow-thumb spica-cast for two weeks. After that period, all patients went for repeated clinical and radiological examination. All children with radiologically visible fracture or continuous, typical complaints underwent cast fixation for another four weeks. Symptom-free patients without radiological evidence of fracture were discharged. One displaced fracture was reduced and stabilized with a screw. In follow-up examination after six to forty months, all fractures showed good radiological consolidation, four patients reported occasional pain on straining the wrist. Scaphoid fractures in children seem to be more difficult to diagnose than to treat. Nondisplaced or slightly displaced fractures can be treated easily with plaster cast. Fractures that show dislocation of more than 1 mm should undergo open reduction and stabilization by a screw.