Paper
ABSTRACT Background: Scaphoid fractures pose significant challenges due to their unique anatomical characteristics and potential complications. This study aims to investigate the incidence and characteristics of scaphoid fractures in the adult population of D.I.Khan, Pakistan. Objective: To determine the incidence and characteristics of saphead fractures in the adult population of D.I.Khan, Pakistan. Material and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Orthopedics, DHQ Teaching Hospital, D.I.Khan, Pakistan from January 2022 to December 2023. Sample size was 63. All adult patients (17-50 years old) with saphead fractures were included, excluding old fractures (duration >1 year), open or associated with other injuries. Demographic variables were gender, age groups and presentation time. Research variables were mechanism of injury, laterality, site, treatment modalities, union time and presence of infection. Results: Out of 63nscaphoid fractures, the prevalence was higher in males 54(85.7%),age group 17-30 years 39(61.9%), presentation time in ≤1week 30(47.6%), mechanism of injury as fall on outstretched hand 42(66.7%), laterality as right hand 45(71.4%), site of fracture as waist 39(61.9%), treatment modalities as ORIF with dorsal approach 23(36.5%). Conclusion: Early recognition, accurate diagnosis, and tailored management approaches are necessary for optimal caretopreventlong- term complication of saphead fractures which are common in younger males, mostly caused by fallonout stretched hand, and mostly involve righth and waist. Significant number of cases requires sopenr eduction and internal fixation.Unionisachievedmostlyin3-6months.