Soft-tissue changes accompanying recent scaphoid injuries.

In 200 consecutive cases of suspected scaphoid fracture, 27 such fractures were demonstrated. Radiologically, when a fracture was present, the soft tissues on the dorsum of the wrist were definitely abnormal in 24 cases and equivocal in only three cases, whereas the scaphoid fat pad was normal in two cases and equivocal in 13 cases. In addition, in 88 cases when the soft tissues on the dorsum of the wrist were definitely normal, no fracture was ever demonstrated.