title: Radiographic changes in algodystrophy of the hand.
abstract: It is not certain to what extent the radiographic features of post-traumatic algodystrophy can be differentiated from disuse atrophy following trauma. A semi-quantitative scoring system has been devised, grading the dominant features seen on radiography in both conditions following Colles' fracture. The technique had intra- and inter-observer errors of 14% and 17% respectively. When applied prospectively 7 weeks after Colles' fractures, there was a significantly greater score in patients with algodystrophy (p less than 0.001) than those without. Analysis of the scores was performed to identify a score for the optimal identification of algodystrophy. At a score of four or greater, 87.5% of patients with algodystrophy were positively identified with a positive predictive value of 83%. It is suggested that use of this scoring system will aid in the early diagnosis of algodystrophy.
authors.affiliation: Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bickerstaff
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: O'Doherty
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kanis
mesh_terms: D001284:Atrophy; D002348:Carpal Bones / Q000473:pathology; D003100:Colles' Fracture / Q000150:complications*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D011859:Radiography; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity