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Trauma
intermediate
X-Type

Scaphoid Fractures - Blood Supply, Herbert Classification and Nonunion

Hand and Wrist Trauma

A 22-year-old man presents after falling onto his outstretched hand during a football match. He has anatomical snuffbox tenderness but initial radiographs are reported as normal. Two weeks later, repeat radiographs confirm a displaced waist fracture with 2mm of step-off. The surgeon discusses the high nonunion risk and recommends operative fixation with a headless compression screw. The importance of understanding the scaphoid blood supply and fracture classification is emphasized. Regarding scaphoid fractures and their management:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

The scaphoid has a RETROGRADE blood supply via the dorsal carpal branch of the radial artery; blood ...

B

HERBERT CLASSIFICATION: Type A = stable acute (A1 tubercle, A2 incomplete waist) treated conservativ...

C

Blood supply enters at the PROXIMAL pole and flows distally; the DISTAL pole has the highest AVN ris...

D

10-20% of scaphoid fractures are NOT visible on initial X-rays; if clinical suspicion high (snuffbox...

E

Operative indications include displacement greater than 1mm, angulation greater than 15 degrees, pro...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option