Delayed Scaphoid Fracture Union in Patients With Comorbid Psychiatric Diagnoses: A Retrospective Analysis of 20 340 Patients

Psychiatric comorbidities have been shown to influence outcomes of various orthopedic pathologies. This study aimed to compare rates of delayed scaphoid union and surgical intervention for fractures in patients with and without comorbid psychiatric diagnoses. A matched retrospective cohort study was performed using the PearlDiver database to determine the association of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia with delayed union rates within 3 and 6 months and rates of nonacute surgical intervention (fixation or grafting) within 6 and 12 months of scaphoid fracture. Analyses were completed using multivariate logistic regression. Among 20 340 patients, a comorbid psychiatric diagnosis was associated with increased rates of delayed scaphoid union at 3 months (odds ratio [OR] = 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.45) and 6 months (OR = 1.23; 95% CI, 1.10-1.38). At 3 months, women with any psychiatric disorder (OR = 1.58; 1.29-1.66), depression (OR = 1.68; 1.31-2.17), and schizophrenia (OR = 5.32; 95% CI, 1.06-26.79) were more likely to experience delayed union, with similar results at 6 months. Men with bipolar disorder experienced increased delayed union rates at 6 months (OR = 1.40; 1.03-1.91). A comorbid psychiatric diagnosis (OR = 1.10; 1.01-1.20) was associated with increased rates of surgical intervention, whereas schizophrenia was associated with decreased rates (OR = 0.58; 0.34-0.99). Patients with comorbid psychiatric conditions experienced increased rates of delayed scaphoid union. These results underscore the importance of understanding factors that may place patients at risk of impaired recovery.