Scaphoid fracture

Scaphoid fractures are notoriously difficult to identify on radiographs. For this reason, when one is suspected but not seen on x-ray, the patient is placed in cast and recalled for a follow-up x-ray at 7-10 days. If, at this point, a fracture is still not seen but clinical exam remains suspicious, a CT can be performed. This example, a coronal image from a wrist CT, shows an undisplaced fracture through the scaphoid waist (arrow).