Reconstruction of scaphoid nonunion fractures of the proximal one third with a vascularized bone graft from the distal radius.

Objective: The treatment of proximal located scaphoid nonunion is a well-known and common problem. For these patients, we used a vascular pedicled bone graft of the distal radius.

Methods: In the last 7 years, 75 patients were treated with the vascular pedicled bone graft. Retrospectively, patients' data, healing rates, and factors influencing scaphoid healing were analyzed.

Results: The overall healing rate in cases with proximal located nonunions (n = 54) was approximately 70%. Out of these 54 patients, 47 patients showed avascular proximal fragments. Multivariate analysis showed no significant impact for the factors age, smoking, duration of disease, or previous operation.

Conclusions: In our negative selected patient group, we were able to achieve good results with the usage of a pedicled vascularized bone graft of the distal radius. Our results indicate a favorable outcome for the use of a pedicled vascularized distal radius bone graft in both scaphoid nonunion fractures of the proximal third, with or without an avascular proximal pole.