[Ultrasound-guided percutaneous Herbert screw for the treatment of fresh nondisplaced carpal scaphoid fracture].

Objective: To explore the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided percutaneous Herbert screw for the treatment of fresh nondisplaced carpal scaphoid fracture.

Methods: Between May 2013 and August 2015, 15 patients with fresh nondisplaced carpal scaphoid fractures (Krimmer type A2) were treated with ultrasound-guided Herbert screw fixation. There were 12 males and 3 females with an average age of 33.4 years (range, 18-51 years). The causes of injury included 9 cases of falls, 3 cases of training injuries, and 3 cases of machine injuries. The interval from injury to surgery was 2-15 days (mean, 5 days). No other complication was found. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, and the fracture healing time were recorded. The wrist function was assessed by the modified Mayo wrist score standard.

Results: The operation time was 28-53 minutes (mean, 33.9 minutes); the intraoperative blood loss was 5-30 mL (mean, 10.5 mL); the intraoperative fluoroscopy was 2-6 times (mean, 2.6 times). All 15 patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 10.5 months). One patient developed pain and soreness in the skin of the nail entrance, and gradually relieved after fumigation. No complication such as infection occurred. All fractures healed clinically, and the healing time was 8-16 weeks (mean, 11.6 weeks). At last follow-up, the modified Mayo wrist score was 76-99 (mean, 92.5). Among them, 12 cases were excellent, 2 cases were good, and 1 case was fair, and the excellent and good rate was 93.3%.

Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided fixation with Herbert screw is a reliable treatment method for fresh nondisplaced carpal scaphoid fractures with small invasion, less bleeding, and small radiation damage.