Evaluation of associated carpal bone fractures in distal radial fractures.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and distribution of associated carpal bone fractures (CBFs) in distal radial fractures (DRFs).


METHODS
Three hundred and thirteen patients who underwent surgical treatment for DRFs between March 2007 and January 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. In this study, 223 patients who had preoperative computed tomography (CT) were included. We investigated the frequency and distribution of associated CBFs on CT scans. The relationship between the frequency of associated CBFs and patient factors such as age, gender, body mass index, and the mechanism of injury was assessed.


RESULTS
CBFs were complicated in 46 of 223 DRFs (20.9%). The distribution of CBFs was 23 cases in the triquetrum, 16 in the lunate, 12 in the scaphoid, five in the hamate, and four in the pisiform. Among the 46 cases, a fracture of one carpal bone occurred in 36 cases, two in seven cases, three in two cases, and four in one case. In 10 of the 46 cases, associated CBFs occurred in more than two carpal bones. No significant differences were observed for age, sex, body mass index, or the mechanism of injury between patients with DRFs and CBFs and those without CBFs.


CONCLUSIONS
Because CBFs that mainly occur in the proximal carpal row are complicated in DRFs at a relatively high frequency, assessment of carpal bones using CT scans is beneficial.
['Heo|Youn Moo|YM|', 'Kim|Sang Bum|SB|', 'Yi|Jin Woong|JW|', 'Lee|Jung Bum|JB|', 'Park|Cheol Yong|CY|', 'Yoon|Jeong Yong|JY|', 'Kim|Doo Hyun|DH|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D002348:Carpal Bones D005260:Female D050723:Fractures, Bone D006230:Hand Injuries D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D011885:Radius Fractures D012189:Retrospective Studies D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Carpal bone Fracture Frequency Distal radius