The clinical result of arthroscopic bone grafting and percutaneous K-wires fixation for management of scaphoid nonunions

The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical results of patients with scaphoid nonunion treated with arthroscopic bone grafting and K (Kirschner)-wires fixation. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 27 patients with scaphoid nonunion who had been treated with arthroscopic bone grafting and K-wires fixation method from November 2008 to February 2014. The average patient age was 35 years. The time from injury to treatment averaged 45 months. The average follow-up period was 18 months. Bone union was assessed using serial plain radiographs. The functional outcome was evaluated by comparing the modified Mayo wrist score with the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, which were measured at the time of preoperation and at final follow-up. Union was achieved in 26 of the 27 nonunions (96.29%). The average radiologic union time was 10 weeks. The average VAS score decreased from 6.38 (range, 3-10) preoperatively to 1.59 (range, 0-3) at the final follow-up. The average modified Mayo wrist score improved from 60.19 preoperatively to 83.46 at the final follow-up. According to this score, there were 12 excellent, 6 good, and 9 fair results at the final follow-up. Arthroscopic bone grafting and percutaneous K-wires fixation is an effective treatment method for a scaphoid nonunion and has the advantages of allowing thorough assessment, enabling a comprehensive management approach for scaphoid nonunion in a minimally invasive manner, and this method can also be used for the scaphoid nonunion with SNAC stage I.