Surgical treatment of scaphoid non-union by anterior interposition bone graft

Twelve male patients with carpal scaphoid nonunion were treated surgically by Russe's technique of anterior bone grafting. The average time between trauma and surgery was 8 months, range 6 - 21 months. The average age was 25 years. The right side was affected in 9 patients and the left in 3. The fracture was in the waist in 8 patients, proximal pole in 2 and distal pole in 2 patients. Pain was disabling in 9 patients and light work was possible in the rest of cases. The results were 16.6% very satisfactory, 50% satisfactory and unsatisfactory in 33.4%