Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42829518›Full record

ReviewCureus2026

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

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

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yolanda GutierrezMedicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Edinburg, USA.
Paul BonillaMedicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, McAllen, USA.
Emmanuel FrancoOrthopedic Surgery, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Edinburg, USA.
Ronald ShajuMedicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Edinburg, USA.
Alyssa SepulvedaMedicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Edinburg, USA.
Nicholas BonazzaOrthopedic Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, Tucson, USA.
Robert SchenckOrthopedic Surgery, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Edinburg, USA.
Aamir AhmadOrthopedic Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson, Tucson, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

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.

Indexed as

athletenonunionreturn to sportreview articlescaphoid fracture

Identifiers

PMID42829518
PMCPMC13633395

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.