Scaphoid Fracture Complications and Assessment

Critical Complications to Monitor

• The American College of Radiology notes that the proximal pole of the scaphoid has a tenuous blood supply, making it highly vulnerable to avascular necrosis (AVN) 1, 2

Scaphoid-Specific Complications

• The American College of Radiology guidelines suggest that proximal pole fractures have a high risk of AVN due to retrograde blood supply and may require surgical intervention even if minimally displaced 1, 2

Diagnostic Considerations

• Clinical examination findings, such as snuffbox tenderness and scaphoid tubercle tenderness, take precedence over normal radiographs, as up to 25% of scaphoid fractures are radiographically occult initially, according to Praxis Medical Insights 3, 4