2013 AAOS Annual Meeting: Cast Immobilization With and Without Immobilization of the Thumb for Nondisplaced Scaphoid Waist Fractures

62 patients with nondisplaced scaphoid waist fractures were randomized to wear a below-elbow cast that either included the thumb or excluded the thumb, in order to compare the union and arm-specific disability outcomes from the treatment methods. Following assessments over a 10 week period, results indicated that the extent of union on CT was significantly higher in the group of patients who wore a below-elbow cast that excluded the thumb, indicating that immobilization of the thumb was not required.