The scaphoid or navicular is the most frequently fractured carpal bone usual occuring from a fall onto an outstretched hand especially when the wrist is radially deviated. It is important to detect because the blood supply to the navicular is tenuous leaving to risk of avascular necrosis of the distal fractured fragment. Oblique "scaphoid" views may be helpful in detecting a subtle fracture. MRI may be occasionally useful for clinically suspicious but x-ray negative studies. Alternatively, the wrist may be immobilized for 2 weeks and x-rays repeated.