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. 2021 Jul 1;92(3):e2021200.
doi: 10.23750/abm.v92i3.11392.

Dorsally displaced distal radius fractures: introduction of Pacetti's line as radiological measurement to predict dorsal fracture displacement

Valerio Pace  1 , Riccardo Maria Lanzetti  2 , Teresa Venditto  3 , Chang Park  4 , Woo Jae Kim  5 , Giuseppe Rinonapoli  6 , Auro Caraffa  7
Affiliations

Dorsally displaced distal radius fractures: introduction of Pacetti's line as radiological measurement to predict dorsal fracture displacement

Valerio Pace et al. Acta Biomed. .

Abstract

Background and aim of the work: In the best of our knowledge there is not yet in the literature a measurement able to assess post reduction stability of distal radius fractures.

Aim: to study the relationship between our newly introduced Pacetti's line, anatomical reduction of DRFs and post-reduction stability of fractures.

Methods: Patients/Participants: 230 patients (122men, 108women) who sustained a dorsally displaced distal radius fracture. Close reduction procedures attempted; below elbow cast applied.

Follow-up: Pacetti's line used on true AP and lateral view xrays after reduction and casting (T0) and at 7-14 days (T1-T2).

Main outcome measurements: Assessment and prediction of early displacement of DRFs.

Results: The Pacetti's line intersected the lunate bone in 162 cases (70.4%) after anatomical reduction, of which 20.4% (N=33) lost anatomical reduction. Cramer's V test: significant relationship between transition of Pacetti's line through the semilunar bone and stability of anatomical reduction at T0 follow-up (p<0.001, Cramer's value=0.83). The Pacetti's line intersected the lunate bone in 119 cases (51.7%) at 7-14 days follow-up. None of patients lost anatomical reduction. Cramer's V test: significant relationship between transition of Pacetti's line through the semilunar bone and stability anatomical reduction at T1 and T2 follow-up (p<0.001, Cramer's value=0.73).

Conclusions: We strongly recommend the use of the Pacetti's line as it seems to provide reliable prediction of further fracture displacement and consequently of definitive management. The Pacetti's line seems to represent a very useful tool providing simple, feasible, efficient and reliable information on DRFs characteristics and natural course.

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Conflict of interest statement

Each author declares that he or she has no commercial associations (e.g. consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangement etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Figures

Figure 1-2:
Figure 1-2:
AP and lateral view of DRF after reduction with Pacetti’s line crossing the lunate bone
Figure 3-4:
Figure 3-4:
Loss of reduction of DRF at 7 days follow up wit Pacetti’s line not crossing the lunate bone (AP and lateral view)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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