To describe the different options for surgical management of carpal scaphoid fractures, with attention to the recent literature. To review the imaging appearance of the standard features and potential complications on follow-up of carpal scaphoid fractures.

The scaphoid bone is the most commonly fractured carpal bone, accounting for 75% of all carpal bone fractures. This type of fracture occurs often after a fall on an outstretched hand. The initial radiography is negative or inconclusive in 10-25%. These fractures usually occur in young individuals with a high functional demand and associate a high rate of complications, such as non-union, osteonecrosis and posttraumatic arthritis. Therefore, an early diagnosis is essential for a proper choice of treatment and an improvement in prognosis. Scaphoid fractures...

Therapeutic algorithm Acute and unstable fractures must be treated by open reduction and internal fixation. Stable fractures or those with surgical contraindications may be treated conservatively. Controversy lies in the management of non-displaced or minimally displaced fractures. This is a subject of recurrent debate and multiple studies have reviewed surgery versus casting for acute scaphoid fractures with dissimilar results. Two pairwise meta-analysis [3,4] concluded that there is no evidence from prospective randomized controlled trials to favor surgical or conservative treatment for acute scaphoid fractures. On...

There is a growing debate regarding the efficacy of surgical versus conservative treatment of non-displaced or minimally displaced scaphoid fractures, and there are yet no studies with statistically significant results. Radiologists must be familiarized with the different surgical options to be able to identify the normal findings and detect potential complications.

Michael E. Rettig et al. Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Acute Displaced Scaphoid Waist Fractures. J of Hand Surgery / Vol .26ª No.1 2001. W. P. Cooney, James H. Dobyns and Ronald L. Linscheid. Fractures of the Scaphoid: A Rational Approach to Management. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. Number 149 June 1980 Talal Ibrahim et al. Surgical Versus Nonsurgical treatment of acute minimally Displaced and Undisplaced Scaphoid Waist Fractures: Pairwise and Network Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials. Vol 36 A 2011. Geert Buijze et...