Osteopenia in Scaphoid Fracture: An Indicator of Good Prognosis or Is it Cause for Concern?: A Case Report.

CASE: A 32-year-old man sustained a scaphoid waist fracture and was managed nonoperatively in a short-arm cast. Radiographic follow-up at 6 weeks showed marked loss of radiodensity of the whole scaphoid, although the fracture was clinically united. Patchy ossification at 3 months was followed by the complete restoration of radiodensity and trabecular pattern by 20 weeks. The patient had an uneventful and full functional recovery.

CONCLUSION

This, perhaps unreported, finding seems to be an indicator of preserved vascularity in scaphoid fractures. Further research/reporting of this radiological pattern in these fractures will help improve their understanding and management.