Analysis of wrist motion following vascularized bone graft to the proximal scaphoid.

PURPOSE: To determine whether there is any motion loss associated with the 1,2 intracompartmental supraretinacular artery (ICSRA) bone graft to the dorsal scaphoid. The null hypothesis is that placement of a vascularized bone graft in the dorsal scaphoid does not lead to a significant change in range of motion.

METHODS

Seven fresh-frozen cadaveric upper extremities were examined. Simulated 1,2 ICSRA bone grafts were harvested and placed into a dorsal trough made in the proximal scaphoid. Wrist motion measurements were performed before and after 1,2 ICSRA bone graft implantation.

RESULTS

There were no significant changes in wrist motion following 1,2 ICSRA bone graft implantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Properly placed 1,2 ICSRA vascularized bone grafts for treatment of proximal scaphoid nonunions do not by themselves cause loss of wrist motion.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Loss of motion following the treatment of proximal scaphoid nonunions with properly placed 1,2 ICSRA vascularized bone grafts are due to factors other than the bone graft itself.