The Herbert screw for delayed union and non-union of scaphoid fractures: a review of twenty-two cases.

We retrospectively reviewed 22 patients with delayed or non-union of scaphoid fractures treated with the Herbert screw. In 15 cases, we used an additional bone graft, taken from the iliac crest in all but two cases. The mean follow-up was 18 months (range: 6-40 months). Twelve of the 14 non-unions and 7 of the 8 delayed unions healed. Eleven patients were pain-free, 7 had minor symptoms, one had major symptoms but still considered his situation to be improved and two did not obtain any clinical improvement.