Comparative efficacy of non-vascularized and vascularized bone grafts, with emerging insights into bone biomaterial grafts, in scaphoid fracture nonunion treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Scaphoid fractures are prevalent wrist injuries with significant treatment challenges, especially when get complicated by nonunion and avascular necrosis. Various grafting techniques, including non-vascularized bone grafts (NVBGs), vascularized bone grafts (VBGs), and bone biomaterial gr...

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Main Authors: Reza Karimnazhand, Roshanak Shams, Ali Behmanesh, Masoud Vosough, Azadeh Gharooee Ahangar, Laura Serrano Barrenechea, Omid Mahmoudinasab, Farid Najd Mazhar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Orthopaedic Translation
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214031X25001020
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author Reza Karimnazhand
Roshanak Shams
Ali Behmanesh
Masoud Vosough
Azadeh Gharooee Ahangar
Laura Serrano Barrenechea
Omid Mahmoudinasab
Farid Najd Mazhar
author_facet Reza Karimnazhand
Roshanak Shams
Ali Behmanesh
Masoud Vosough
Azadeh Gharooee Ahangar
Laura Serrano Barrenechea
Omid Mahmoudinasab
Farid Najd Mazhar
author_sort Reza Karimnazhand
collection DOAJ
description Background: Scaphoid fractures are prevalent wrist injuries with significant treatment challenges, especially when get complicated by nonunion and avascular necrosis. Various grafting techniques, including non-vascularized bone grafts (NVBGs), vascularized bone grafts (VBGs), and bone biomaterial grafts, are utilized to promote healing, but the comparative efficacy of these methods remains unclear. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the efficacy of different types of bone grafts (NVBGs, VBGs, and bone biomaterials) in the treatment of scaphoid nonunion, focusing on outcomes including union rates, time to healing, and functional recovery scores. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane and Web of Science was conducted to identify eligible studies published between 2000 and 2024. studies were categorized into: (1) comparative studies of NVBG vs. VBG, (2) studies reporting only NVBG outcomes, and (3) studies reporting only VBG outcomes. Bone Biomaterials were assessed separately due to limited data (one study). Meta-analyses were performed on in common reported outcomes for each group including union rates, time to healing, range of motion, grip strength, and Modified Mayo Wrist Scores (MMWS). Results: A total of 62 studies involving 2332 scaphoid nonunion patients were included. VBGs demonstrated significantly higher union rates and shorter healing times compared to NVBGs. VBG-treated patients also showed better functional outcomes, including greater grip strength and MMWS in comparative studies NVBGs were less effective in evaluated cases and required longer healing times. The use of bone biomaterial grafts, although limited in the current literature, showed promising results comparable to NVBGs, but further studies are needed. Conclusion: VBGs demonstrated higher union rates and shorter healing times compared to NVBGs, with better functional outcomes in some cases, though evidence certainty is moderate. Bone biomaterials represent a promising alternative to traditional grafts but require more evidence to support their widespread use. Treatment decision-makers should consider clinical context and case-specific conditions. Further research is needed to confirm these trends.Translational potential: This study helps clinical decision-making by evaluating the efficacies of different bone grafts outcomes in complex scaphoid nonunions, potentially reducing treatment failures. It also underscores the emerging role of bone biomaterial grafts as a less invasive alternative, paving the way for personalized orthopedic strategies needing further evaluations to be used for treating scaphoid nonunions.
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spelling doaj-art-97375b5a3c7340dca6a9cadf8c1cc1be2025-06-29T04:51:56ZengElsevierJournal of Orthopaedic Translation2214-031X2025-07-0153231245Comparative efficacy of non-vascularized and vascularized bone grafts, with emerging insights into bone biomaterial grafts, in scaphoid fracture nonunion treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysisReza Karimnazhand0Roshanak Shams1Ali Behmanesh2Masoud Vosough3Azadeh Gharooee Ahangar4Laura Serrano Barrenechea5Omid Mahmoudinasab6Farid Najd Mazhar7Bone and Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranBone and Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Corresponding author. Bone and Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, IUMS, Tehran, Iran.Bone and Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, SwedenPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Southern Älvsborg Hospital, Borås, SwedenPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist, Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Southern Älvsborg Hospital, Borås, SwedenBone and Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranBone and Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Corresponding author. Bone and Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, IUMS, Tehran, Iran.Background: Scaphoid fractures are prevalent wrist injuries with significant treatment challenges, especially when get complicated by nonunion and avascular necrosis. Various grafting techniques, including non-vascularized bone grafts (NVBGs), vascularized bone grafts (VBGs), and bone biomaterial grafts, are utilized to promote healing, but the comparative efficacy of these methods remains unclear. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the efficacy of different types of bone grafts (NVBGs, VBGs, and bone biomaterials) in the treatment of scaphoid nonunion, focusing on outcomes including union rates, time to healing, and functional recovery scores. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane and Web of Science was conducted to identify eligible studies published between 2000 and 2024. studies were categorized into: (1) comparative studies of NVBG vs. VBG, (2) studies reporting only NVBG outcomes, and (3) studies reporting only VBG outcomes. Bone Biomaterials were assessed separately due to limited data (one study). Meta-analyses were performed on in common reported outcomes for each group including union rates, time to healing, range of motion, grip strength, and Modified Mayo Wrist Scores (MMWS). Results: A total of 62 studies involving 2332 scaphoid nonunion patients were included. VBGs demonstrated significantly higher union rates and shorter healing times compared to NVBGs. VBG-treated patients also showed better functional outcomes, including greater grip strength and MMWS in comparative studies NVBGs were less effective in evaluated cases and required longer healing times. The use of bone biomaterial grafts, although limited in the current literature, showed promising results comparable to NVBGs, but further studies are needed. Conclusion: VBGs demonstrated higher union rates and shorter healing times compared to NVBGs, with better functional outcomes in some cases, though evidence certainty is moderate. Bone biomaterials represent a promising alternative to traditional grafts but require more evidence to support their widespread use. Treatment decision-makers should consider clinical context and case-specific conditions. Further research is needed to confirm these trends.Translational potential: This study helps clinical decision-making by evaluating the efficacies of different bone grafts outcomes in complex scaphoid nonunions, potentially reducing treatment failures. It also underscores the emerging role of bone biomaterial grafts as a less invasive alternative, paving the way for personalized orthopedic strategies needing further evaluations to be used for treating scaphoid nonunions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214031X25001020Scaphoid fracturesNonunionVascularized bone graftNon-vascularized bone graftBone biomaterialsMeta-analysis
spellingShingle Reza Karimnazhand
Roshanak Shams
Ali Behmanesh
Masoud Vosough
Azadeh Gharooee Ahangar
Laura Serrano Barrenechea
Omid Mahmoudinasab
Farid Najd Mazhar
Comparative efficacy of non-vascularized and vascularized bone grafts, with emerging insights into bone biomaterial grafts, in scaphoid fracture nonunion treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Journal of Orthopaedic Translation
Scaphoid fractures
Nonunion
Vascularized bone graft
Non-vascularized bone graft
Bone biomaterials
Meta-analysis
title Comparative efficacy of non-vascularized and vascularized bone grafts, with emerging insights into bone biomaterial grafts, in scaphoid fracture nonunion treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Comparative efficacy of non-vascularized and vascularized bone grafts, with emerging insights into bone biomaterial grafts, in scaphoid fracture nonunion treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Comparative efficacy of non-vascularized and vascularized bone grafts, with emerging insights into bone biomaterial grafts, in scaphoid fracture nonunion treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Comparative efficacy of non-vascularized and vascularized bone grafts, with emerging insights into bone biomaterial grafts, in scaphoid fracture nonunion treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Comparative efficacy of non-vascularized and vascularized bone grafts, with emerging insights into bone biomaterial grafts, in scaphoid fracture nonunion treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort comparative efficacy of non vascularized and vascularized bone grafts with emerging insights into bone biomaterial grafts in scaphoid fracture nonunion treatment a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Scaphoid fractures
Nonunion
Vascularized bone graft
Non-vascularized bone graft
Bone biomaterials
Meta-analysis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214031X25001020
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