What is the most common carpal bone fracture?

What is the most common carpal bone fracture?

• A. Lunate
• B. Capitate
• C. Scaphoid
• D. Triquetrum

Answer: (C)

A fall on an outstretched hand drives force through the radial aspect of the wrist into the scaphoid, making it the most commonly fractured carpal bone. The scaphoid’s position and how load is transmitted explain why it fractures more often than the other carpal bones. Its blood supply comes mainly from branches of the radial artery entering distally and traveling to the proximal pole; a fracture can disrupt this retrograde flow, especially if the proximal pole is involved, increasing the risk of avascular necrosis and nonunion if not treated promptly. Clinically, this injury often presents with tenderness in the anatomic snuffbox and pain with thumb extension or grasp; initial X-rays can be negative, so persistence of symptoms may require immobilization and repeat imaging or MRI. While fractures can occur in other carpal bones, lunate, capitate, and triquetrum fractures are far less common.

A fall on an outstretched hand drives force through the radial aspect of the wrist into the scaphoid, making it the most commonly fractured carpal bone. The scaphoid’s position and how load is transmitted explain why it fractures more often than the other carpal bones. Its blood supply comes mainly from branches of the radial artery entering distally and traveling to the proximal pole; a fracture can disrupt this retrograde flow, especially if the proximal pole is involved, increasing the risk of avascular necrosis and nonunion if not treated promptly. Clinically, this injury often presents with tenderness in the anatomic snuffbox and pain with thumb extension or grasp; initial X-rays can be negative, so persistence of symptoms may require immobilization and repeat imaging or MRI. While fractures can occur in other carpal bones, lunate, capitate, and triquetrum fractures are far less common.