title: [The role of CT in the diagnosis and treatment of distal radius fracture].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate and discuss the role of CT in the diagnosis and treatment of comminutive distal radius fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eleven consecutive patients (118 cases of fractures) who were admitted to Jishuitan hospital from January 2003 to January 2005 were included in this study. These patients all need operative treatment and accepted CT scans for better understandings of these injuries and helping to make operation plans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  after comparing the results of X planes and CT scans, considerable differences existing between the two examinations were found in the measurements of articular compression and step-off, gapping, comminution degree and subdislocation. This difference was manifested not only in the alteration of quantity but also in the change of quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computed tomography can provide more vivid and detailed information of fractures for practitioners. Undoubtedly, CT is especially valuable in the evaluation of severity degree and stability of comminutive distal radius fractures, thus it helps us to determine whether operation is obligatory and choose the best method and approach of operation. Moreover, CT can also clearly show the important parts of fractures which need special attention in the process of operation. At the same time, practitioners are required to understand the indications of CT examination completely and know how to choose scan planes properly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma, Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China. jygong815@sina.com
authors.forename: Xiao-ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Gui-sheng
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Zhi-qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Shao-liang
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guo-wei
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Rong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult