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Skeletally immature wrists are considered at risk of injury due to increased axial loading through a relatively shorter ulna. The aim of this study was to determine whether triangular fibrocartilage thickness relates to ulnar variance and age in adolescents. The radiographs and MRIs of 24 healthy adolescents were retrospectively assessed. Four observers assessed bone age and ulnar variance on radiographs and measured triangular fibrocartilage thickness on MRIs. Median calendar and bone age was 13 years and ulnar variance was -0.7 mm. Median triangular fibrocartilage thickness was 1.4 mm, with excellent inter-observer agreement (r = 0.86). It was moderately correlated with ulnar variance (ρ = -0.46) as well as with bone age (ρ = -0.49). Both variables were statistically significant predictors in a multivariate analysis. This suggests that triangular fibrocartilage thickness changes during skeletal maturation, which might influence axial load distribution in skeletally immature wrists.

We aimed to assess the influence of fracture location and comminution on acute scaphoid fracture displacement using three-dimensional CT. CT scans of 51 adults with an acute scaphoid fracture were included. Three-dimensional CT was used to assess fracture location, comminution and displacement. Fracture location was expressed as the height of the cortical breach on the volar and dorsal side of the scaphoid relative to total scaphoid length (%), corresponding to the fracture's entry and exit point, respectively. We found a near-linear relation between dorsal fracture location and displacement. As dorsal fracture location became more distal, translation (ulnar, proximal, volar) and angulation (flexion, pronation) of the distal fragment relative to the proximal fragment increased. Comminuted fractures had more displacement. Dorsal fracture location predictably dictates the direction of translation and angulation in displaced scaphoid fractures. Surgeon attention to dorsal fracture location can help identify displacement patterns and provide guidance in adequately reducing a displaced scaphoid fracture. Level of evidence: III.

Introduction: Data from clinical trials suggest that CT-confirmed nondisplaced scaphoid waist fractures heal with less than the conventional 8-12 weeks of immobilization. Barriers to adopting shorter immobilization times in clinical practice may include a strong influence of fracture tenderness and radiographic appearance on decision-making. This study aimed to investigate (1) the degree to which surgeons use fracture tenderness and radiographic appearance of union, among other factors, to decide whether or not to recommend additional cast immobilization after 8 or 12 weeks of immobilization; (2) identify surgeon factors associated with the decision to continue cast immobilization after 8 or 12 weeks., Materials and Methods: In a survey-based study, 218 surgeons reviewed 16 patient scenarios of CT-confirmed nondisplaced waist fractures treated with cast immobilization for 8 or 12 weeks and recommended for or against additional cast immobilization. Clinical variables included patient sex, age, a description of radiographic fracture consolidation, fracture tenderness and duration of cast immobilization completed (8 versus 12 weeks). To assess the impact of clinical factors on recommendation to continue immobilization we calculated posterior probabilities and determined variable importance using a random forest algorithm. Multilevel logistic mixed regression analysis was used to identify surgeon characteristics associated with recommendation for additional cast immobilization., Results: Unclear fracture healing on radiographs, fracture tenderness and 8 (versus 12) weeks of completed cast immobilization were the most important factors influencing surgeons' decision to recommend continued cast immobilization. Women surgeons (OR 2.96; 95% CI 1.28-6.81, p  =  0.011), surgeons not specialized in orthopedic trauma, hand and wrist or shoulder and elbow surgery (categorized as 'other') (OR 2.64; 95% CI 1.31-5.33, p  =  0.007) and surgeons practicing in the United States (OR 6.53, 95% CI 2.18-19.52, p  =  0.01 versus Europe) were more likely to recommend continued immobilization., Conclusion: Adoption of shorter immobilization times for CT-confirmed nondisplaced scaphoid waist fractures may be hindered by surgeon attention to fracture tenderness and radiographic appearance., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

In this cadaveric study of anterior plating of the distal radius, we aimed to determine the interobserver agreement and diagnostic performance for detecting dorsally protruding screws using the dorsal tangential radiographic view before and after specific training. Without prior instruction, 13 observers interpreted the dorsal tangential view of cadaveric specimens, in which anterior radial plates were placed. After seeing a training video on the dorsal tangential view, they repeated the task. Though we found that accuracy and interobserver agreement was lower than described in some other clinical series, training led to statistically significant improvements of (1) the interobserver agreement on the decision to exchange screws, (2) the self-confidence of the surgeon in obtaining adequate views, and (3) the number of fluoroscopic images required to obtain these views. After training, the number of protruding screws missed was reduced by 36%, but 7% of dorsally protruding screws was still missed.