Logo of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (Br)
Quick search:        
          Advanced Search
Guest Access | Sign In
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow My Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by London, P. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by London, P. S.

THE BROKEN SCAPHOID BONE

The Case Against Pessimism

P. S. London 1

1 Birmingham Accident Hospital

1. The bad reputation of fractures of the scaphoid bone is based on a) past disasters caused by inadequate splintage and premature resort to operation; and b) selection of disabling cases for publication.

2. The results obtained in five series comprising over 1,000 fractures suggest that 95 per cent of adequately studied fractures less than a month old unite if properly treated.

3. Sixty cases of established non-union have provided evidence that disability is almost always the result of further injury and that the disability is usually relieved by a short time in plaster.

4. There is no evidence to support the widely held beliefs that a) union by bone can occur only if the fracture is immobilised throughout the process; and b) union after prolonged immobilisation is due to the immobilisation.

5. A policy of treating the wrist and not merely its radiological appearances is advocated.
(c) British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery All Rights Reserved
Registered charity no: 209299     Print ISSN: 0301-620X
Hip, Knee, Trauma, Upper limb, Foot & Ankle, Paediatrics, Oncology, Spine, Arthroplasty, General