gy interns and DACBRs (Doctors of Chiropractic who have a Diplomat from the American Chiropractic Board of Radiologists) read films, present case studies, etc. So from my love for that, not only will my radiology posts educate you, my reader, but will also affirm anything that I have learned, am learning or will learn. Since my cousin has a recent scaphoid bone fracture, I figured it would be the subject of my first radiographic post. The top radiograph (xray) shows normal anatomy of the wrist, and since the scaphoid is a carpal bone (one of the 8 small bones that makes up the wrist) a normal wrist radiograph is applicable. The pink dot is located adjacent to the scaphoid bone. You can clearly see the fracture in the next radiograph (note that these radiographs were taken on two different patients). Scaphoid fractures account for almost 71% of carpal fractures and are extremely unique due to it's vascularization. Usually a fracture of the scaphoid fracture will result in two pieces, like the one in this instance. The bon
e healing process is mainly dependent upon the blood supply (vascularity) because that's how nutrients arrive to the fracture site, hence healing. In the scaphoid, the blood supply is more proximal (closer to the wrist, farther from the fingers), so depending on where the fracture site is, the distal portion (the fracture piece closer to the fingers) may or may not get the nutrients that are vital to healing. Normal treatments include: casts over the wrist and may or may not include the thumb, surgical implementation of screws and bone grafts to adhere the fractured pieces together.Sources:
Skeletal Trauma Radiology, University of Virginia. http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/courses/rad/ext/
Boles, Carol. Wrist, Scaphoid Fractures and Complications. 22 March 2010; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/397230-overview
Your Orthopedic Connection: Scaphoid Fractures of the Wrist May 2010. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
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