Broken scaphoid, bone graft didnt work, what next?

I guess lots of folk on here have broken their scaphoid, but has anyone gone on to have a bone graft in an attempt to fix one, which didnt work? Ms AD has just been told her op probably wasnt successful so the bone is currently held together with a screw. The previous attempt to fix it by pinning lasted for about 3 years before it worked loose which led to the attempted bone graft op.

She’s been back on the bike and riding for a couple of weeks without any pain now, but that depends on the screw staying in place. Has anyone else been able to carry on riding in that situation? Did you try a motocross or other brace? Any other suggestions? I guess the trick is not to fall off again, but that’s pretty tough to guarantee. Even then, if they didnt use the right threadlock on the screw, it could work it’s way loose again.

One of the motorcycle racers just had the bone removed.

My surgery wasn’t a great success. Surgeon said he was way too late to do much now (took a few years to diagnose then 18 months for a surgery appointment). I use a mix of braces depending on how I feel. Mine doesn’t sound as bad you wife’s so mostly s soft wrap type brace and often nothing at all. I do ride carefully anyway which I suppose helps. Tend to trigger it more from playing football than biking

Just reading this makes me feel queasy, I hope the issue is sorted for Mrs agent and you too nick.

Thanks. It was a massive disappointment – we paid for a private op (obviously ££££) and were told success rate is about 80%, and being fitter than average, she had an even better chance. Plus it’s felt good to her riding some fairly gnar stuff recently.

Hopefully the pin will hold, or healing will continue slowly – the surgeon wasnt 100% sure from the xray.

TJ – any idea what the consequences of having it removed were? That was mentioned to her when she had the initial op.

Pesky little bone

I know he carried on racing. I cannot remember who it was. Someone in the Rainey era in moto GP Kevin Schwantz?

He carried on racing for years afterwards with just a funny looking wrist. I would think you would get some reduced mobility but its not something I know a lot about

Might be worth seeing Brain Simpson the motorcycle racer healer (physio clinic Ipswich) and see if he can recommend any treatment to promote healing.  I went to see him after my graft and screw op for a some alternative non NHS treatments. to help it heal

^^ thanks

IIRC Mrs FunkyDunc is an orthopaedic surgeon and might have some suggestions.

Dr Google suggests bone grafting may be an option but TBH my knowledge of wrist surgery is limited to stopping the screaming while they operate.

I had a titanium screw in mine on the NHS 6 years ago. I don’t know it’s in there. I broke 5 bones there in total but I’m completely pain free and ride a lot.

Sorry to hear about your wife’s wrist: scaphoid fractures can be difficult to get to heal.
You can’t really just take the bone out without doing something to the rest of the wrist because of the way the scaphoid links things together, just removing it could make the situation worse.
There probably are several options that could be tried before anything that drastic though.
Impossible to sensibly comment further without seeing the wrist & xrays / scans though. Where are you based?
Tim Halsey
Consultant Hand & Wrist Surgeon
Chelsea & Westminster hospital, London

Ignore me- wrong bone.

Hi Tim, hope you don’t mind me butting in here, I broke my scaphoid approx 10 years ago, took several months and 3 or 4 trips to hospital to diagnose then more to wait for an operation so was around a year later when it was eventually pinned/screwed. It’s never been quite right since.

It’s not stopped me doing anything, and riding a full suss bike is no problem at all, a little worse on a road bike but still doesn’t stop me riding, just mild pain/aching afterwards. I do however get sharp pain sometimes when rotating my hand, doing up bolts and gripping tools seem to be the worst triggers. Bit worried that it’s slowly going to get worse.

Do you think it’s worth going to see the GP, or is there a faster route to seeing a wrist specialist without going private? Based in Eastbourne if that makes a difference. Appreciate any advice, would be great if there was a possibility of sorting it properly or limiting future deteriation.

Hi Duner
Sorry to hear you have wrist pain too.
Definitely get your GP to refer you on. If you outline what has happened as above a sensible GP should refer you on to a Wrist Surgeon for review. There are likely to be several things they can do (and not every option is a big operation!)
There is likely to be a bit of a wait to be seen so better to ask sooner rather than later…
Best wishes, Tim

Hi Tim. We’re based in Bristol. Jo’s consultant doesn’t have the best bed side manner and her physio, who seems very knowledgeable, even suggested a 2nd opinion.

Anyway, assuming the graft failed and she’s relying on the pin to hold the bone together, it would be useful to know how to manage things ( other than not riding). I guess a brace could help. Currently it feels nearly 100% and Jo is lucky that she is flexible and strong. Buy we are off to the Alps for 3 months soon…

Def worth getting a second opinion.
Physios are usually an excellent starting point for asking who best to see local to you: they see each surgeon’s post op patients and will usually have a good idea about everyone’s communication skills…
Sorry I can’t really comment further without seeing individual patients, best of luck in the Alps, sounds like fun!

Thank for the reply Tim. Will get myself booked in.

From my experience of having my clavicle plated and successfully repaired after three miserable months of non-union while the bone ends rounded off and stopped trying, I would say:

1 – Get another surgeon. Every one of them has different areas of interest and expertise and if they use bone graft and the right hardware and take care to wake up the bone ends it should work.

2 – What the hell was she doing riding a bike with a broken bone in her hand? Does she actually want the bone to heal or not?

Thanks Dr Glob, it’s a long story that I won’t trouble you with.

I’m sympathetic to this cause… Mine has finally healed but it was a long road. And yes of course I was back on the bike before I should have been. Seriously who wouldn’t be? Hopefully it will last the course with its upgrades, only time will tell. What I do know now is that it would be a royal PITA if I break it again, so I too wonder about braces etc. Still hurts a bit but my surgeon says thats OK because it will just remind me I’m alive 😉