Editorial Bioteck

8 October 2025

The use of equine bone substitutes for minimally invasive treatment of the scaphoid fossa

Today, we present a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of the medial volar joint fragment (punch die) of the scaphoid fossa, published in the journal Techniques in Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery in March 2025 by Dr. Marcovici’s group (Rome, Italy).

 

Five weeks after a motorcycle accident, a 35-year-old patient comes to the surgeon’s attention for surgery following a scaphoid fossa fracture.

 

After appropriate portal opening, an evaluation of the joint is done and a punch die fragment of the scaphoid in isolated nascent malunion is noted, with a 7×12 mm articular fragment and a 5 mm joint surface depression.

 

Through appropriate instrumentation, intra-articular osteotomy of the ulnar, radial and dorsal edges of the fragment is performed. Then following skin incision and opening of a 1-cm bone window over Lister’s tubercle. A curette is introduced to elevate the fragment, which is anatomically reduced under arthroscopic guidance. To prevent collapse of the fragment, the bone window is filled with freeze-dried and fragmented cancellous equine bone Chips (Osteoplant®, Cancellous Chips).

 

In the Osteoplant® line, the preserved collagen component obtained through the Zymo-Teck® process allows for the maintenance of excellent biomechanical properties. In addition, the native conformation of collagen creates a favorable physiological environment for bone regeneration.

 

Radiographs taken after 6 weeks showed complete fracture consolidation. Follow-up at 3 months showed…

 

> For full details, click on the magazine’s website