Long-term follow-up of a malunited, isolated fracture of the capitate in a 6-year-old boy.

A 6-year-old boy with an isolated fracture of the capitate was presented. First radiograghs at our clinic revealed an oblique fracture with a displacement of 5 mm on the lateral view, which we successfully treated with immobilization. When complete union was recognized in the radiographs, the capitate had a deformity consisting of a large prominence on the palmar aspect. During follow-up, the capitate showed marked remodeling and at four and a half years after injury it had regained an almost normal shape. Eleven years after injury, there were no radiographic changes such as malalignment or arthrosis in the carpal bones.