Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD August 2011
Heeren Makanji, Harvard Medical School Year III
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Our Patient #1: History
and Physical Exam
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
• 36 yo with FOOSH 3
months ago
• Persistent pain in radial side
of left wrist, worse with
movement
• Anatomic snuffbox
tenderness
http://www.picturesof.net/pages/110102-
144849-942053.html
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Our Patient #1: Differential Diagnosis
• Fracture (scaphoid, triquetrum, lunate, distal radius)
• Ligament or Tendon Injury
• Dislocation
• Osteoarthritis
• Infection
• Nerve impingement
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Our Patient #1: Plain Films
PA View Oblique View
PACS, BIDMC PACS, BIDMC
Findings: Linear lucency in scaphoid waist with surrounding sclerosis
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
PACS, BIDMC
Our Patient #1: MRI
Findings:
•Fracture line
through scaphoid
waist
• Bone marrow
edema
• Cystic areas in the
bones
T2-weighted MRI
CONSIDER: WAS THIS MRI INDICATED?
Our Patient #2: History
and Physical Exam
• 27 yo, fells horizontally on
right wrist and forearm
• Persistent pain in radial side,
swelling
• Anatomic snuffbox
tenderness
FOOSH
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
http://singlemindedwomen.com/blog/sex-the-single-
woman-falling-for-you/attachment/tripping/
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Our Patient #2: Plain Films
PACS, BIDMC
PA View
PACS, BIDMC
Scaphoid View
Findings: Soft tissue/bone artifact, no evidence of fracture
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Our Patient #2: Interval History
• Wrist immobilization with cast
• Scheduled for repeat radiographs 2 weeks later
• Pain persisted, still worse with movement
• Continued anatomic snuffbox tenderness
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Our Patient #2: Plain Films, 1 Month Later
PACS, BIDMC
Oblique View
Findings:
•Linear lucency reflecting
scaphoid fracture or soft
tissue density
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Our Patient #2: MRI
PACS, BIDMC
T2-weighted MRI
Findings:
• Fracture line through
scaphoid waist/distal
pole boundary
• Bone marrow edema
in distal pole
CONSIDER: WAS THIS MRI INDICATED?
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Objectives
• Regional Anatomy of the Wrist
• Menu of Radiological Tests
• When to Order Certain Radiological Tests
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Scaphoid Fractures: The Basics
• Accounts for 79% of carpal fractures
• Mechanism of injury: dorsiflexion and radial deviation
• Young and healthy population
• 70% in waist, 20% in proximal pole, 10% in distal pole
• Prognosis improves with more distal fractures
Regional Anatomy: Carpal Bones
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
A
H
B
G
F
E
C
D
Proximal Row
A-Scaphoid
B-Lunate
C-Triquetrum
D-Pisiform
Distal Row
E-Trapezium
F-Trapezoid
G-Capitate
H-Hamate
Temple, CL, et al., J Hand Surg, 2005 May; 30(3):
534-542.
Regional Anatomy: Blood Supply to the Scaphoid
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Blood is supplied from the distal to proximal pole, making the
proximal pole susceptible to AVN in scaphoid fractures
Amadio PC, et al. Green’s operative hand surgery, 5th edition. 2005. pp. 711–768
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Menu of Radiological Tests
• Plain films
• Ultrasound
• Bone scan
• CT
• MRI
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Menu of Radiological Tests: Plain Films
• 1st diagnostic step
• Use specialized views to
visualize scaphoid
• Misses up to 20% of
scaphoid fractures
• Low inter- and intra-
observer reliability in
multiple studies
• Bone and soft tissue
artifacts possible
Smith M, et al., ANZ J. Surg, 2010 Jan;80(1-2): 82-90.
Menu of Radiological Tests: Scaphoid Views
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
PACS, BIDMC
PACS, BIDMC
PACS, BIDMC
PACS, BIDMC
Neutral PA 30 degrees 45 degrees 60 degrees
Beam is angulated toward the elbow; useful for detecting waist fractures
Menu of Radiological Tests: Ultrasound
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Smith M, et al., ANZ J. Surg, 2010 Jan;80(1-2): 82-90.
• High-spatial resolution sonography (5-15 MHz)
• Specific, but not sensitive; rarely used in United States
Findings: Cortical disruption, hematoma Findings: Cortical disruption, soft tissue
swelling, joint effusion
Menu of Radiological Tests:
Radionuclide Bone Scan
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
• High sensitivity, low
specificity
• Age affects rate of
osteoblastic activity
• Quantification bone
scan has higher
specificity but rarely used
Rhemrev SJ, et al., Int J Emerg Med, 2011 Feb;4:4
Findings: Increased uptake in the right scaphoid
Menu of Radiological Tests: CT Scan
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
• High sensitivity and specificity
• Best spatial resolution allows for detection of
displacement, angulation, and non-union
• Longitudinal axis slices preferred; risk of missing oblique
non-unions
• Useful for operative planning
Companion Patients #1 and #2: CT Scan
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
PACS, BIDMC Smith M, et al., ANZ J. Surg, 2010
Jan;80(1-2): 82-90
Findings: Scaphoid waist fracture Findings: Displaced scaphoid
waist fracture
Menu of Radiological Tests: MRI
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
• Most sensitive and
specific imaging test
• Useful for evaluating
soft tissue injuries and
avascular necrosis
• Is it cost-effective?
PACS, BIDMC
T2-weighted MRI
Findings: Fracture line, bone marrow edema
When to Order Certain Radiological Tests
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
• Studies showed that imaging protocol varies significantly: In study of 105
hospitals across 6 continents, only 7% of hospitals shared same protocol
• Four-view plain radiograph may miss scaphoid fractures; patients may
present months to years after initial injury
• Balance diagnostic use, cost-effectiveness, patient compliance
• ACR recommends use of repeat radiographs or MRI for initially undetected
fractures
• In prospective study, use of early MRI, before repeat radiographs, resulted
in therapeutic consequence in 66% of cases
• Cost-effectiveness studies have been equivocal
When to Order Certain Radiological Tests: Algorithm
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Concern for Complications/Displacement?
Treatment Fracture
detected
Initial Radiographs Show Fracture?
Yes
YesNo
Which Complication?
OA
(Plain
Film)
SLAC
(Plain
Film)
AVN
(MRI)
Non-Union
(CT or MRI)
No
Casting and repeat radiographs
in 10-14 days
Or
MRI
Refer to Concern
for Complications/
Displacement
Displacement
(CT)
No fracture
detected and
persistent
symptoms
Repeat MRI
Or
CT
Back to Our Patients #1 and #2
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Patient #1: Injury 3 months prior, evidence of
non-union on plain films
MRI indicated?
Patient #2: Initial plain radiographs normal,
follow-up radiographs were inconclusive
MRI indicated?
YES
YES
Summary
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
• Scaphoid fractures are most common carpal fracture
• Menu of radiological tests include plain films, ultrasound, bone
scan, CT, and MRI
• Four-view plain films, including scaphoid view, is initial
radiological test
• MRI has highest sensitivity and specificity for detecting scaphoid
fractures
• CT useful for assessing displacement and for operative planning
Acknowledgements
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Dr. Mary Hochman
Dr. Gillian Lieberman
Emily Hanson
References
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Amadio PC, Moran SL. Fractures of carpal bones. In: Green DP, Pederson WC, Hotchkiss RN, Wolfe SW, editors.
Green’s operative hand surgery. 5. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2005. pp. 711–768.
Dorsay TA, Major NM, Helms CA. Cost-effectiveness of immediate MR imaging versus traditional follow-up for revealing
radiographically occult scaphoid fractures. AJR Am J Roentgenology. 2001 Dec;177:1257-63
Duckworth AD, Ring D, McQueen MM. Assessment of the suspected fracture of the scaphoid. J Bone Joint Surg Br.
2011 Jun;93(6): 713-9
Gelberman RH, Menon J. The vascularity of the scaphoid bone. J Hand Surg.1980 Feb;5: 508-13
Groves AM, Kayani I, Syed R, Hutton BF, Bearcroft PP, Dixon AK, et al. An international survey of hospital practice in the
imaging of acute scaphoid trauma. AJR Am J Roentgenology. 2006 Dec;187(6): 1453-6
Kozin SH. Incidence, mechanism, and natural history of scaphoid fractures. Hand Clin. 2001 Nov;17(4): 515-524
Mack MG, Keim S, Balzer JO, Schwarz W, Hochmuth K, Windolf J, et al. Clinical impact of MRI in acute wrist fractures.
Eur Radiol. 2003 Mar;13(3): 612-7
Rhemrey SJ, Ootes D, Beeres FJ, Meylaerts SA, Schipper IB. Current methods of diagnosis and treatment of scaphoid
fractures. Int J Emerg Med. 2011 Feb;4:4
Ring D, Jupiter JB, Herndon JH. Acute fractures of the scaphoid. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2000 Jul-Aug;8(4): 225-31
Rubin DA, Dalinka RH. Expert Panel on Musculoskeletal Imaging. Acute Hand and Wrist Trauma [online publication].
Reston, Virginia: American College of Radiology (ACR), 2005;8.
References
Heeren Makanji, 2011
Gillian Lieberman, MD
Smith M, Bain GI, Turner PC, Watts AC. Review of imaging of scaphoid fractures. ANZ J Surg. 2010 Jan;80(1-2): 82-
90
Strauch, RJ. Scapholunate advanced collapse and scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse arthritis-update on
evaluation and treatment. J Hand Surg Am. 2011 Apr;36(4): 729-35
Temple CL, Ross DC, Bennett JD, Garvin GJ, King GJ, Faber KJ. Comparison of sagittal computed tomography and
plain film radiography in a scaphoid fracture model. J Hand Surg Am. 2005 May;30(3): 534-42
Vrettos BC, Adams BK, Knottenbelt JD, Lee A. Is there a place for radionuclide bone scintography in the management
of radiograph-negative scaphoid trauma? S. Afr Med J. 1996 May;86(5): 540-2
Wheeless, CR. Wheeless’ Textbook of Orthopaedics. 2011. http://www.wheelessonline.com/. 17 Aug 2011