Scaphoid fracture key points:
- most common carpal bone fractured
- 10% of scaphoid fractures have an associated fracture of another bone
- 70% involve the waist, 10-20% the distal pole, and 5-10% the proximal pole
Avascular necrosis of the scaphoid key points:
- occurs in 15-30% of scaphoid fractures
- almost always involves the proximal pole
- up to 30% of scaphoid fractures may display increased density of the proximal pole
- the more proximal the fracture, the higher the risk of AVN
- the radiographic hallmarks of AVN are collapse and fragmentation
- often reversible
- may be due to relative ischemia of the proximal pole