The objective of this presentation is not to perform an exhaustive review of the surgical treatment of scaphoid fractures but to try to justify our choice to systematically associate an arthroscopic control in with a percutaneous fixation using a cannulated screw in all non- or minimally displaced scaphoid fractures. Scaphoid fractures are frequent but present unique challenges because of the particular geometry of the bone and the tenuous vascular pattern of the scaphoid. Delays in diagnosis and inadequate treatment for acute scaphoid fractures may lead to non-unions that can progress to carpal collapse and degenerative arthritis of the wrist.
Improvements in diagnosis, surgical treatment and implant materials have encouraged a trend towards early internal fixation even for non-displaced scaphoid fractures that could potentially be treated non-operatively. In our experience, wrist arthroscopy is a useful tool in the management of these fractures not only to assess the quality of reduction but also not to overlook severe carpal ligament injuries, which would be untreated and may lead to chronic and symptomatic carpal instability.