Avascular necrosis may affect the scaphoid bone at the wrist. Some use the eponym Preiser’s disease to refer to all cases, while others restrict the term to post-traumatic cases.
Causes of avascular necrosis of the scaphoid may include:
(1) trauma or repetitive microtrauma
(2) chemotherapy
(3) steroid therapy
(4) hypoplasia of the scaphoid bone (anatomic variation)
(5) systemic disease
(6) idiopathic
The patient typically presents with wrist pain with the diagnosis made on imaging studies (with MRI more sensitive).
It is usually unilateral but occasionally can be bilateral.
Complications:
(1) fracture or collapse of the scaphoid bone
(2) significant disability if untreated
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