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. 2018 Aug;21(4):206-210.
doi: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2017.09.004. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

Early scaphoid fractures are better diagnosed with ultrasonography than X-rays: A prospective study over 114 patients

Ravikant Jain  1 , Nikhil Jain  2 , Tanveer Sheikh  1 , Charanjeet Yadav  3
Affiliations

Early scaphoid fractures are better diagnosed with ultrasonography than X-rays: A prospective study over 114 patients

Ravikant Jain et al. Chin J Traumatol. 2018 Aug.

Erratum in

Abstract

Purpose: Wrist has a complex anatomy and undergoes complex injuries. Scaphoid fracture is one of such injuries. It is the most common fracture in carpal bone. Most of the scaphoid fractures are missed on initial X-rays. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered as a gold standard for diagnosing scaphoid fractures. Ultrasonography (USG) is emerging as a good alternative to make an early diagnosis of scaphoid fractures. Our aim is to throw light upon the role of USG in detection of scaphoid fractures.

Methods: The study was centered upon 114 patients in the age range 10-65 years, with traumatic wrist injury and were clinically suspected to have scaphoid fractures. Patient with non-traumatic history, bilateral wrist injury and late presentation were excluded. X-rays, USG using high frequency probe and MRI were done for all patients. MRI was considered to be the gold standard test. Patients were followed up at 6 weeks.

Results: Of the 114 patients, X-ray could diagnose scaphoid fractures in 48 patients, 30 of which were confirmed by MRI. USG results were positive in 74 patients, of which MRI was positive in 67 patients. The accuracy of scaphoid fracture detection with USG was 98.04% in comparison to X-ray (20.58%), which was statistically significant.

Conclusion: USG provides a more accurate and reliable method of making an early diagnosis of scaphoid fracture than X-rays. It is non-invasive, non-expensive and allows better visualisation of cortical disruption.

Keywords: High frequency; Scaphoid fractures; Ultrasonography.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A: Initial X-ray with normal findings. B: USG showing cortical disruption as pointed by arrow head. C: USG showing decreased width of fractured scaphoid due to impaction as compared to normal side (blue line-normal side, green line-affected side).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A: Initial X-ray with no positive findings. B: USG showing cortical discontinuity of scaphoid pointed by arrow. C: X-ray after 6 weeks showing resorption of fracture site and callus formation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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