Publication
Title
Comparison of two percutaneous volar approaches for screw fixation of scaphoid waist fractures
Author
Abstract
Background: When a surgeon uses a percutaneous volar approach to treat scaphoid waist fractures, central screw placement is complicated by the shape of the scaphoid and by obstruction by the trapezium. In this study, we used radiographs and biomechanical tests to compare the standard volar percutaneous approach with the transtrapezial approach, with regard to central screw placement at the distal pole of the scaphoid. Methods: Fourteen matched pairs of cadaveric wrists were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Under fluoroscopic control, a guidewire was drilled into the scaphoid, either through a transtrapezial approach or through a standard volar approach that avoided the trapezium. Guidewire position was measured in the coronal and sagittal planes. A transverse osteotomy was performed along the scaphoid waist, and this was followed by the insertion of the longest possible cannulated headless bone screw. Each specimen was placed into a fixture with a pneumatically driven plunger resting on the surface of the distal pole. Load was applied by using a load-controlled test protocol in a hydraulic testing machine. Results: All guidewires were inside the central one-third of the proximal pole. The guidewire positions at the distal pole differed significantly between the transtrapezial and standard volar approach groups (p < 0.001). The load to 2 mm of displacement and the load to failure averaged, respectively, 324.4 N (standard error of the mean [SEM] = 73.5 N) and 386.4 N (SEM = 65.6 N) for the transtrapezial approach group compared with 125.7 N (SEM = 22.6 N) (p = 0.002) and 191.4 N (SEM = 36.30 N) (p = 0.005) for the standard volar approach group. Conclusions: The data suggest that, in a cadaveric osteotomy-simulated scaphoid waist fracture model, the transtrapezial approach reliably achieves central positioning of a screw in the proximal and distal poles. This position offers a biomechanical advantage compared with central placement in only the proximal pole.
Language
English
Source (journal)
The journal of bone and joint surgery : American volume. - London, 1948, currens
Publication
London : 2014
ISSN
0021-9355 [print]
1535-1386 [online]
DOI
10.2106/JBJS.L.01729
Volume/pages
96A :16 (2014) , p. 1369-1376
ISI
000343799400016
Pubmed ID
25143497
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 10.12.2014
Last edited 04.03.2024
To cite this reference