Treatment and Return to Sport in Athletes With Scaphoid Fractures: A Narrative Review.

Authors

Yolanda Gutierrez, Paul Bonilla, Emmanuel Franco, Ronald Shaju, Alyssa Sepulveda, Nicholas Bonazza, Robert Schenck, Aamir Ahmad

Published in

Cureus. Volume 18. Issue 9. Pages e115689. Epub Sep 02, 2026.

Abstract

Scaphoid fractures are the most common fracture of the carpal bone and frequently occur in athletic populations due to acute trauma or repetitive wrist loading. Management of these injuries in athletes is challenging because of the need to balance reliable fracture healing with timely return to sport. This narrative review summarizes current literature regarding treatment strategies, healing outcomes, and return-to-sport timelines in athletes with scaphoid fractures. We conducted a literature search using PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL between July 2025 and January 2026. A total of 862 records were identified, with 255 duplicates removed. Following title, abstract, and full-text screening, nine clinical studies evaluating treatment outcomes and return to sport in athletes with scaphoid fractures were included. Additionally, three epidemiological studies describing the incidence and distribution of hand injuries in athletic populations were included for contextual analysis. Across the included studies, treatment strategies consisted of conservative management with immobilization or surgical fixation with percutaneous screw fixation or open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Return-to-sport timelines varied substantially according to treatment strategy, fracture characteristics, and chronicity, with some studies reporting earlier return following surgical fixation compared with conservative management. Available athlete-specific literature is limited primarily to case reports and small cohort studies, precluding definitive conclusions regarding treatment superiority. Further prospective research with standardized reporting of healing outcomes and return-to-sport criteria is needed to better guide management strategies for athletes with scaphoid fractures.

PMID:
42829518
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 04 Oct 2026.

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