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Scaphoid Tubercle

tuberculum ossis scaphoidei

The scaphoid tubercle is a rounded projection on the palmar and radial aspect of the distal scaphoid pole, palpable at the base of the thenar eminence just distal to the radial styloid. The flexor carpi radialis tendon passes in a groove adjacent to it, the abductor pollicis brevis and opponens pollicis attach to the flexor retinaculum overlying it, and the radial artery crosses near it in the anatomical snuffbox.

Region: Hand & Wrist

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

The scaphoid tubercle is the palpation target in Watson scaphoid shift test for scapholunate instability, where dorsal pressure on the tubercle during radial-to-ulnar deviation provokes the scaphoid to sublux if the scapholunate ligament is deficient. Tenderness of the scaphoid tubercle on palmar pressure, combined with anatomical snuffbox tenderness, is a sensitive but not specific sign for scaphoid fracture. STT arthrosis produces pain directly at the tubercle that is reproduced by axial loading.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Scaphoid Tubercle Tenderness in Fracture

Tenderness directly over the scaphoid tubercle on the palmar radial wrist, combined with anatomical snuffbox tenderness, provides high sensitivity for scaphoid fracture after a fall on the outstretched hand, requiring MRI when plain radiographs are negative.

Watson Scaphoid Shift Test Provocation

Dorsal pressure on the scaphoid tubercle during wrist ulnar deviation prevents normal scaphoid flexion; in scapholunate instability the scaphoid subluxes dorsally producing a painful clunk, with a false positive rate requiring correlation with other clinical and imaging findings.