Carpal Fractures Workup

  • Author: George J Kouris, MD; Chief Editor: Harris Gellman, MD   more...
 
Updated: Feb 3, 2011
 

Imaging Studies

  • Standard radiographs, including the anteroposterior (AP), lateral, and oblique views, are usually sufficient to diagnose carpal fractures.
  • If the fracture is not adequately depicted with standard radiographs, additional imaging studies, including bone scans and CT scan, may help to confirm these fractures.[14]
Proceed to Treatment & Management
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

George J Kouris, MD  Senior Fellow, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center

George J Kouris, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Robert R Schenck, MD  Professor Emeritus, Department of Plastic Surgery, Rush Medical College; Emeritus Director, Section of Hand Surgery, Department of Plastic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center

Robert R Schenck, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Hand Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Chicago Medical Society, and Illinois State Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Michael S Clarke, MD  Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine

Michael S Clarke, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Hand Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, Arthroscopy Association of North America, Clinical Orthopaedic Society, Mid-Central States Orthopaedic Society, and Missouri State Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Michael Yaszemski, MD, PhD  Associate Professor, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Bioengineering, Mayo Foundation, Mayo Medical School

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Dinesh Patel, MD, FACS  Associate Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Chief of Arthroscopic Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital

Dinesh Patel, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Harris Gellman, MD  Consulting Surgeon, Broward Hand Center; Voluntary Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Plastic Surgery, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine

Harris Gellman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Association, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, and Arkansas Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  2. Pierre-Jerome C, Moncayo V, Albastaki U, Terk MR. Multiple occult wrist bone injuries and joint effusions: prevalence and distribution on MRI. Emerg Radiol. May 2010;17(3):179-84. [Medline].

  3. Jørgsholm P, Thomsen NO, Björkman A, Besjakov J, Abrahamsson SO. The incidence of intrinsic and extrinsic ligament injuries in scaphoid waist fractures. J Hand Surg Am. Mar 2010;35(3):368-74. [Medline].

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  10. Cohen MS. Fractures of the carpal bones. Hand Clin. Nov 1997;13(4):587-99. [Medline].

  11. Seitz WH, Papandrea RF. Fractures and dislocations of the wrist. In: Rockwood and Green's Fractures in Adults. 5th ed. Phliadelphia, Pa: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 2001:749-799.

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  17. Trumble TE, Gilbert M, Murray LW, et al. Displaced scaphoid fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation with a cannulated screw. J Bone Joint Surg Am. May 2000;82(5):633-41. [Medline].

  18. Panchal A, Kubiak EN, Keshner M, Fulkerson E, Paksima N. Comparison of fixation methods for scaphoid nonunions: a biomechanical model. Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis. 2007;65(4):271-5. [Medline].

  19. Pensy RA, Richards AM, Belkoff SM, Mentzer K, Andrew Eglseder W. Biomechanical comparison of two headless compression screws for scaphoid fixation. J Surg Orthop Adv. Winter 2009;18(4):182-8. [Medline].

  20. [Best Evidence] Leung F, Tu YK, Chew WY, Chow SP. Comparison of external and percutaneous pin fixation with plate fixation for intra-articular distal radial fractures. A randomized study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. Jan 2008;90(1):16-22. [Medline].

  21. Arora R, Lutz M, Zimmermann R, Krappinger D, Niederwanger C, Gabl M. Free vascularised iliac bone graft for recalcitrant avascular nonunion of the scaphoid. J Bone Joint Surg Br. Feb 2010;92(2):224-9. [Medline].

 
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Nondisplaced scaphoid fracture.
Scaphoid fracture with minimal displacement.
Open reduction and internal fixation of displaced scaphoid fracture.
Nondisplaced fracture of the hook of the hamate.
 
 
 
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