Does scaphoid bone bruising lead to occult fracture? A prospective study of 50 patients.

Introduction: Bone bruising of the scaphoid is a term reported when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is carried out for scaphoid injury. The aim of our study was twofold: to see if bone bruising alone without fracture of the scaphoid bone seen on initial MRI, in a clinically symptomatic (tender) patient at 10-14 days, progressed to fracture, and to define how this entity of bone bruising should be managed.

Methods: This was a prospective study looking at 170 patients with scaphoid injuries, of which 50 had bone bruising without fracture.