Fascial implant arthroplasty for treatment of radioscaphoid degenerative disease

Twenty patients were evaluated up to 9 years (average, 3.8 years) after a hemiscaphoid fascial arthroplasty. All were men. Twelve had a chronic scaphoid nonunion, six had radioscaphoid arthritis from chronic scapholunate advanced collapse deformity, and two had irreducible transscaphoid perilunate dislocations. The degenerated or impinging portion of the scaphoid was replaced by a slightly oversized fascial implant; 4 being constructed of autograft and 16 of allograft fascia. Postoperative motion included a 30 degree or 73% gain in extension and a 19 degree or 38% gain in flexion, producing an overall 140 degree average arc motion. Grip strength increased 17% after operation. Pain was completely or dramatically relieved in all but one patient. All other patients returned to their preoperative occupations.