EVALUATION OF HERBERT SCREW FIXATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF DISPLACED SCAPHOID NONUNIONS

Ten cases of unstable scaphoid nonunions treated with Herbert screw fi xation were compared to nine cases treated with Herbert screw fixation supplemented with a single Kirschner wire (K-wire) across the fractur e site. Corticocancellous bone graft from the distal radius was used i n all cases to reconstruct the scaphoid. The age of the patients and d uration of the nonunions were similar in both groups. Postoperative ra diographs demonstrated that only 5 of 10 patients with Herbert screw f ixation alone healed, while 8 of 9 patients with Herbert screw and K-w ire fixation healed. The time to union averaged 4.9 months in the pati ents supplemented with a K-wire and 7.8 months in those patients witho ut the K-wire.