title: Evaluation of associated carpal bone fractures in distal radial fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and distribution of associated carpal bone fractures (CBFs) in distal radial fractures (DRFs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and thirteen patients who underwent surgical treatment for DRFs between March 2007 and January 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. In this study, 223 patients who had preoperative computed tomography (CT) were included. We investigated the frequency and distribution of associated CBFs on CT scans. The relationship between the frequency of associated CBFs and patient factors such as age, gender, body mass index, and the mechanism of injury was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CBFs were complicated in 46 of 223 DRFs (20.9%). The distribution of CBFs was 23 cases in the triquetrum, 16 in the lunate, 12 in the scaphoid, five in the hamate, and four in the pisiform. Among the 46 cases, a fracture of one carpal bone occurred in 36 cases, two in seven cases, three in two cases, and four in one case. In 10 of the 46 cases, associated CBFs occurred in more than two carpal bones. No significant differences were observed for age, sex, body mass index, or the mechanism of injury between patients with DRFs and CBFs and those without CBFs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because CBFs that mainly occur in the proximal carpal row are complicated in DRFs at a relatively high frequency, assessment of carpal bones using CT scans is beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Youn Moo
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Sang Bum
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Woong
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Jung Bum
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Cheol Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jeong Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Doo Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002348:Carpal Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Carpal bone; Distal radius; Fracture; Frequency