Vascularized bone graft in carpal bone reconstruction

We report our experience of vascularized bone graft harvested from the volar aspect of the distal radius for carpal bone reconstruction. Thirty cadaveric dissections showed in all cases the volar carpal artery which born from the radial artery. Between 1994 to 2001, we treated 87 scaphoid non-unions with an average follow-up of 41 months (range 6 to 65 months). Union was obtained in 80 patients (92%) with an average delay of 8.6 weeks (range 6 to 24). Between 1994 to 2000 we treated 22 patients with a Kienbock's disease. A radius shortening was always added to the revascularization of lunate by this vascularized bone graft. Preoperative and postoperative MRI was systematically done. The average follow-up was 55 months (range 24 to 92 months). MRI showed healing with good revascularization in 16 cases (74%). Lesions of lunate were stabilized in five cases and we had one failure with secondary palliative procedure. This simple but meticulous technique needs only one approach and allows a sufficient revascularisation.