What is the Scaphoid View ?

Abstract

Introduction.More than 60% of wrist injuries are associated with scaphoid bone fractures in young active people. Scaphoid fracture difficult to diagnose on initial radiography due to unique and complex structures of scaphoid bone, its overlapping position between other carpals bone and still no general consensus about how and which radiographic view should be taken for better expose. This let scaphoid fracture into potential complication such as non-union, delayed union, decrease of wrist joint motion, osteoarthritis of radiocarpal joint and avascular necrosis. Materials and Methods.Serial initial projection of radiograph was investigated to get the better view of scaphoid bone. Postero-anterior projection within wrist joint in extension 10°, 15°, and 20° with maximum ulnar deviation using wrist joint frame was found making the scaphoid clearer. The database was compared to get the ideal view of scaphoid. Extension and ulnar deviation were performed due to flexed position of scaphoid anatomically in neutral wrist joint position. Results. Good exposure of scaphoid is got from performing radiographic examination of wrist joint 10° extended with maximum ulnar deviation position, in a total of 60 right and left wrist joint samples of young active men and women. Conclusions.Ten degrees extension with ulnar deviation wrist joint position can be proposed to be one of standard scaphoid view on plain radiography. It is useful to assess suspicious or occult scaphoid fracture, besides neutral posteroanterior, lateral and oblique view