To explore a new approach to treat old scaphoid fracture by grafting bones from distal radius and fixing absorbable screws. Methods From January 2002 to May 2007, 18 patients with old scaphoid fractures were treated by grafting bones from distal radius and fixing absorbable screws. All of the 18 patients (13 males and 5 females, aged from 17 to 41 years old) had the injury history of the palm of hand touching the ground. They felt tenderness on the anatomical snuff-box and tubercle of scaphoid bone. The grasping force decreased. The range of motion of the wrist was (36 ± 2)° extension/(30 ± 3)° flexion, (8 ± 3)° radial is/(13 ± 2)° ulnaris. Results The average postoperative follow-up period was 15.7 months．A total of 18 cases achieved bone union. The range of motion of the wrist in the 16 healed cases was (68 ± 2)° extension/(65 ± 3)° flexion, (15 ± 3)° radial is/(28 ± 5)° ulnaris. There was no pain of motion and symptom of powerlessness. As to the other 2 cases, the range of motion of the wrist was (40 ± 8)° extension/(35 ± 6)° flexion, (8 ± 5)° radial is/(12 ± 5)° ulnaris; no obvious improvement was found; the patients occasionally felt painful in daily l ife; the extension force decreased. No infection and break of internal fixation were seen. Conclusion The absorbable screw as a new biomaterial for internal fixation has obvious advantages of good biocompatibil ity, promoting union of the fracture and no need of a second operation for removal．
【Abstract】 Objective To assess the results of treatment of unstable distal radius fractures with leverage reductionand bone graft assisted by external fixators. Methods From September 2005 to May 2007, 27 cases of unstable distal radius fractures were treated by leverage reduction and bone graft, meanwhile assisted by external fixators. The cases included 16 males and 11 females, aged from 18 to 69 years with an average of 49. 3 years. Fractures were caused by fall ing in 19 cases, crash from high place in 1 case, traffic accident in 6 cases, and obtuse strike directly in 1 case, which were all closed fresh bone fractures. According to the standard of AO, all cases were classified as type C1 in 13 cases, type C2 in 11 cases, and type C3 in 3 cases. The palmar incl inination was from － 38° to 10°(mean － 12.2°); the ulnar deviation angle was from 6° to 30° (mean 19. 1°) before operations. The operations were performed from 1 to 3 days after injuries. The function of the carpal joints and the boneheal ing conditions were evaluated after operations. Results All cases were followed up for 4-24 months(mean 13. 1 months). No compl ications such as pin loosening, dislocation of fixators, injury of blood vessels and radial nerves, pin track infections occurred. According to Mcbride scoring, the results were excellent in 10 cases, good in 13 cases, fair in 3 cases and poor in 1 case, the excellent and good rate being 85. 2%. One case had traumatic arthritis and 1 case had wrist joint stiffness. All achieved fractures uniton 8-10 weeks (mean 9.3 weeks) after operations. The palmar incl inination angle was from 0° to 20° (mean 13. 4°); the ulnar deviation angle was from 10° to 33° (mean 22. 1°) after operations. Conclusion Treatment of unstable fractures of the distal radius by use of leverage reduction and bone graft with external fixator offers many advantages, such as simple operation, satisfactory reduction, rigid fixation, excellent function and lower incidence rate of traumatic arthritis.