Is revision bone grafting worthwhile after failed surgery for scaphoid nonunion? Minimum 8 year follow-up of 18 patients.

Eighteen patients who underwent revision non-vascularized bone grafting and internal fixation after failed surgery for scaphoid nonunion were reviewed after a minimum of 8.2 years. Eleven of the nonunions were located in the middle and seven in the proximal third of the scaphoid. The mean interval between injury and the revision procedure was 6 years. Sixteen of the 18 nonunions healed, two after a third attempt. Three patients with healed nonunions and one patient with persistent nonunion required salvage procedures for progressive radiocarpal arthrosis. In the remaining 14 cases, the mean loss of wrist flexion/extension arc compared to the contralateral wrist was 36 degrees . Mean reduction of grip strength and key pinch was 9.3 kg and 0.9 kg respectively. The QuickDASH score was 18 and a visual analogue pain score was 21/100 at follow-up. Wrist degeneration increased in all but one case during the observation period. Thirteen of 16 patients with union and one patient with a persisting nonunion experienced moderate symptoms.