Preliminary evidence that bilateral scaphoid symmetry is not affected by hand dominance or biological sex: volumetric and geometric analysis using high-resolution computed tomography with 0.5 mm slice-thickness

Michael Roberts; Susie Lee; Amy Allen; Eliza Whiteside; Edward Bliss; Rose Nicol; Polly Burey; Tristan Shelley; Christopher Wall; Vivek Shridhar

doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.112073

Preliminary evidence that bilateral scaphoid symmetry is not affected by hand dominance or biological sex: volumetric and geometric analysis using high-resolution computed tomography with 0.5 mm slice-thickness

Eur J Radiol. 2025 Jun:187:112073. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.112073. Epub 2025 Apr 10.

Authors

Michael Roberts¹, Susie Lee¹, Amy Allen², Eliza Whiteside³, Edward Bliss⁴, Rose Nicol⁵, Polly Burey⁶, Tristan Shelley⁶, Christopher Wall⁷, Vivek Shridhar⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedics, Toowoomba Hospital, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia; Centre for Future Materials, SIMPLE Hub, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia.
² Department of Orthopaedics, Toowoomba Hospital, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia; Centre for Future Materials, SIMPLE Hub, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia. Electronic address: Amy.allen@unisq.edu.au.
³ Centre for Future Materials, SIMPLE Hub, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia; School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia; Centre for Health Research, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia.
⁴ School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia; Centre for Health Research, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Future Materials, SIMPLE Hub, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia; Emergency Department, Toowoomba Hospital, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Future Materials, SIMPLE Hub, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia.
⁷ Department of Orthopaedics, Toowoomba Hospital, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia.

PMID: 40250007
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2025.112073

Abstract

The scaphoid bone has a unique anatomy that can lead to complicated injury healing including non-union with or without avascular necrosis and subsequent complex operative treatment. The use of imaging of contralateral bones for operative planning and implant creation such as bone grafting relies on the innate symmetry of the human body. Previous studies of scaphoid anatomy have demonstrated symmetry in three-dimensional space and volume in right-hand dominant individuals. There is a gap in the literature reporting on scaphoid symmetry in left-hand dominant individuals. This study used the computed tomography (CT) scans of 30 healthy participants to create three dimensional (3D) models of left and right scaphoids to assess their symmetry. These bilateral models were quantified with respect to volume, surface area, length, and iterative-closest point (ICP). Paired-sample t-tests found differences in the volumes of contralateral scaphoids in males however surface area, length, and ICP of the scaphoids was observed to be not significantly different suggesting symmetry using these measures. In females, there was a significant difference in length but not the other measures. These results support further investigation using larger sample sizes and greater representation of left hand dominant participants into the use of contralateral scaphoid CT scans in pre-operative planning for the manufacture of patient-specific implants.

Keywords: Computed Tomography; Non union; Scaphoid; Symmetry.

MeSH terms

Adult
Female
Functional Laterality* / physiology
Humans
Imaging, Three-Dimensional* / methods
Male
Reproducibility of Results
Scaphoid Bone* / anatomy & histology
Scaphoid Bone* / diagnostic imaging
Sensitivity and Specificity
Tomography, X-Ray Computed* / methods
Young Adult