PDF icon Download PDF
Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging 2025; 35(03): 374-386
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1801268
Review Article

Multimodality Imaging in Wrist Fractures and Dislocations

Madhurima Sharma 
1   Departments of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
,
Shayeri Roy Choudhury
1   Departments of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
,
Anindita Sinha 
1   Departments of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
,
Mahesh Prakash
1   Departments of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.
› Further Information
Also available ateRefMedOne
  Permissions and Reprints
Preview

Abstract

Wrist fractures and dislocations are frequently encountered in the emergency department and can cause significant long-term disability. Imaging plays a crucial role in the evaluation of wrist injuries, with conventional radiography being the first imaging investigation. Cross-sectional imaging is playing an increasingly important role in management of wrist injuries. Computed tomography with 3D and multiplanar reformatting capabilities is in particular useful for detailed evaluation of bony injuries and can provide vital information to orthopaedic surgeons for adequate surgical planning. In this article, we provide a brief review of the normal wrist anatomy, imaging appearance, and various patterns of fractures and dislocations commonly encountered in the emergency department.

Keywords

wrist injuries - wrist trauma - radius fractures - radiography - computed tomography


Publication History

Article published online:
13 February 2025

© 2025. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Squires JH, England E, Mehta K, Wissman RD. The role of imaging in diagnosing diseases of the distal radioulnar joint, triangular fibrocartilage complex, and distal ulna. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2014; 203 (01) 146-153
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 2 van der Post AS, Jens S, Smithuis FF, Obdeijn MC, Oostra RJ, Maas M. The triangular fibrocartilage complex on high-resolution 3 T MRI in healthy adolescents: the thin line between asymptomatic findings and pathology. Skeletal Radiol 2021; 50 (11) 2195-2204
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 3 Kaewlai R, Avery LL, Asrani AV, Abujudeh HH, Sacknoff R, Novelline RA. Multidetector CT of carpal injuries: anatomy, fractures, and fracture-dislocations. Radiographics 2008; 28 (06) 1771-1784
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 4 Bateni CP, Bartolotta RJ, Richardson ML, Mulcahy H, Allan CH. Imaging key wrist ligaments: what the surgeon needs the radiologist to know. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2013; 200 (05) 1089-1095
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 5 Gilbert TJ, Cohen M. Imaging of acute injuries to the wrist and hand. Radiol Clin North Am 1997; 35 (03) 701-725
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 6 De Smet AA, Doherty MP, Norris MA, Hollister MC, Smith DL. Are oblique views needed for trauma radiography of the distal extremities?. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1999; 172 (06) 1561-1565
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 7 American College of Radiology. ACR Appropriateness Criteria®. Acute Hand and Wrist Trauma. Reston, VA: ACR; 2018;
  • 8 Goldfarb CA, Yin Y, Gilula LA, Fisher AJ, Boyer MI. Wrist fractures: what the clinician wants to know. Radiology 2001; 219 (01) 11-28
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 9 Welling RD, Jacobson JA, Jamadar DA, Chong S, Caoili EM, Jebson PJL. MDCT and radiography of wrist fractures: radiographic sensitivity and fracture patterns. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2008; 190 (01) 10-16
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 10 Wieschhoff GG, Sheehan SE, Wortman JR. et al. Traumatic finger injuries: what the orthopedic surgeon wants to know. Radiographics 2016; 36 (04) 1106-1128
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 11 Kumaravel M, Weathers WM. Emergency magnetic resonance imaging of musculoskeletal trauma. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 2016; 24 (02) 391-402
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 12 Vassa R, Garg A, Omar IM. Magnetic resonance imaging of the wrist and hand. Pol J Radiol 2020; 85: e461-e488
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 13 Porrino Jr JA, Maloney E, Scherer K, Mulcahy H, Ha AS, Allan C. Fracture of the distal radius: epidemiology and premanagement radiographic characterization. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2014; 203 (03) 551-559
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 14 Shehovych A, Salar O, Meyer C, Ford DJ. Adult distal radius fractures classification systems: essential clinical knowledge or abstract memory testing?. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2016; 98 (08) 525-531
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 15 Belloti JC, Tamaoki MJS, Franciozi Cda S. et al. Are distal radius fracture classifications reproducible? Intra and interobserver agreement. Sao Paulo Med J 2008; 126 (03) 180-185
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 16 Arealis G, Galanopoulos I, Nikolaou VS, Lacon A, Ashwood N, Kitsis C. Does the CT improve inter- and intra-observer agreement for the AO, Fernandez and Universal classification systems for distal radius fractures?. Injury 2014; 45 (10) 1579-1584
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 17 Loredo RA, Sorge DG, Garcia G. Radiographic evaluation of the wrist: a vanishing art. Semin Roentgenol 2005; 40 (03) 248-289
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 18 Gong XY, An GS, Gao ZQ, Li SL, Rong GW. The role of CT in the diagnosis and treatment of distal radius fracture. Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi 2006; 44 (20) 1414-1416
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 19 Amin MM, Abdel Wahab MA, Sadek AF, Gomaa BMA. Role of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) with MPR in assessment of fracture patterns around the wrist join. Minia Journal of Medical Research. 2020; 31 (04) 101-109
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 20 Balci A, Basara I, Çekdemir EY. et al. Wrist fractures: sensitivity of radiography, prevalence, and patterns in MDCT. Emerg Radiol 2015; 22 (03) 251-256
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 21 Logan AJ, Lindau TR. The management of distal ulnar fractures in adults: a review of the literature and recommendations for treatment. Strateg Trauma Limb Reconstr 2008; 3 (02) 49-56
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 22 Nakamura R, Horii E, Imaeda T, Tsunoda K, Nakao E. Distal radioulnar joint subluxation and dislocation diagnosed by standard roentgenography. Skeletal Radiol 1995; 24 (02) 91-94
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 23 Mino DE, Palmer AK, Levinsohn EM. The role of radiography and computerized tomography in the diagnosis of subluxation and dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint. J Hand Surg Am 1983; 8 (01) 23-31
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 24 Wechsler RJ, Wehbe MA, Rifkin MD, Edeiken J, Branch HM. Computed tomography diagnosis of distal radioulnar subluxation. Skeletal Radiol 1987; 16 (01) 1-5
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 25 Chiang CC, Chang MC, Lin CF, Liu Y, Lo WH. Computerized tomography in the diagnosis of subluxation of the distal radioulnar joint. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi (Taipei) 1998; 61 (12) 708-715
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 26 Geissler WB. Carpal fractures in athletes. Clin Sports Med 2001; 20 (01) 167-188
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 27 Gelberman RH, Menon J. The vascularity of the scaphoid bone. J Hand Surg Am 1980; 5 (05) 508-513
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 28 Adams JE, Steinmann SP. Acute scaphoid fractures. Hand Clin 2010; 26 (01) 97-103
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 29 Cheung GC, Lever CJ, Morris AD. X-ray diagnosis of acute scaphoid fractures. J Hand Surg [Br] 2006; 31 (01) 104-109
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 30 Adey L, Souer JS, Lozano-Calderon S, Palmer W, Lee SG, Ring D. Computed tomography of suspected scaphoid fractures. J Hand Surg Am 2007; 32 (01) 61-66
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 31 O'Shea K, Weiland AJ. Fractures of the hamate and pisiform bones. Hand Clin 2012; 28 (03) 287-300 , viii
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 32 Norman A, Nelson J, Green S. Fractures of the hook of hamate: radiographic signs. Radiology 1985; 154 (01) 49-53
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 33 Scalcione LR, Gimber LH, Ho AM, Johnston SS, Sheppard JE, Taljanovic MS. Spectrum of carpal dislocations and fracture-dislocations: imaging and management. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2014; 203 (03) 541-550
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 34 Mayfield JK, Johnson RP, Kilcoyne RK. Carpal dislocations: pathomechanics and progressive perilunar instability. J Hand Surg Am 1980; 5 (03) 226-241
    Search in Google Scholar