Functional Scaphoid Pseudarthrosis. Two Cases with Long-term Follow-up after Closed Wedge Osteotomy of the Distal Radius

INTRODUCTION: Closed wedge osteotomy of the distal radius represents a treatment option for the advanced scaphoid pseudarthrosis. Few authors have reported good results with many of the cases achieving union of the scaphoid. The aim of this study is to inform about the functional long-term outcome of two patients in whom bone union was not achieved after this procedure. CASE REPORT: In this article, we present two patients, one with 5 and one with 40 years of follow-up who were treated with closed wedge osteotomy of the distal radius due to advanced scaphoid nonunion. We evaluated the functional outcome which was excellent and in addition radial translocation of the carpus was found as it was compared the anteroposterior radiographs before surgery and at the end of the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Closed wedge osteotomy of the radius is an extra articular procedure that can cause radial translocation of the wrist and change its biomechanics, while the functional outcome does not depend on whether fracture healing is achieved.