Experts Dr. Arun Sayal and Dr. Matt DiStefano discuss commonly missed wrist injuries in the ED. They cover topics like DRUJ injuries, x-ray views for diagnosis, and management of fractures including Colles vs Barton's vs Smith's. Key x-ray signs for wrist injuries and TFC tears in distal radius fractures are highlighted.
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Quick takeaways
Accurate diagnosis of wrist injuries requires comprehensive history-taking, consideration of tissue quality, and clinical examination of tenderness and surface anatomy.
Knowledge of surface anatomy, including specific carpal bones and tender spots, aids in identifying fractures and ligament injuries in wrist trauma cases.
Recognizing drudge injuries, especially in distal radius fractures, on lateral x-rays is crucial for timely treatment to prevent long-term functional complications.
Deep dives
Understanding Wrist Injuries and Differential Diagnosis
Wrist injuries can be complex, requiring a thorough differential diagnosis. Comprehensive history-taking, considering age-related disease prevalence, and analyzing tissue quality are essential for accurate diagnosis. Clinical examination, including assessing tenderness and surface anatomy, plays a crucial role in pinpointing specific injuries such as scaphoid fractures or triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries.
Importance of Surface Anatomy in Wrist Examinations
Understanding surface anatomy is vital in diagnosing wrist injuries. Palpating specific carpal bones like the scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum aids in pinpointing potential fractures or ligament injuries. Surface anatomy knowledge guides clinicians in identifying tender spots and recognizing less common but serious injuries like hook of hamate fractures.
Significance of Drudge Injuries in Wrist Trauma
Drudge injuries, particularly in the distal radius fracture context, are often overlooked but can lead to long-term complications. Recognizing drudge injuries on lateral x-rays and understanding their spectrum, from minor sprains to complete tears, is crucial. Timely identification of drudge injuries, whether isolated or associated with fractures, can impact treatment strategies and prevent long-term functional issues like supination block.
Identifying and Managing Drudge Injuries
Examine any suspected drudge injuries by checking for tenderness in the radial neck, mid-shaft radius, or distal radius. Look for clues like a history involving forced pronosupination, such as in mechanics using power tools or motor vehicle collisions. Performing a pronosupination handshake can help assess discomfort or limited range of motion indicating a potential drudge injury. The shuck test, where the drudge is stressed volar to dorsal, can reveal ligament stability compared to the other side.
Differentiating Barton and Smith Fractures
Barton fractures involve the dorsal or volar fragments of the distal radius, leading to focal instability that may require surgery, especially for Volar Bartons. On the other hand, Smith fractures result from a force impacting the back of the hand, causing volar angulation. Differentiating these from Colleese fractures is crucial as reduction and immobilization, like wrist extension and above elbow splinting, are essential in managing Smith fractures to prevent deformity and ensure proper healing.
In this part 1 or our 2-part podcast series on wrist injuries Dr. Arun Sayal and Dr. Matt DiStefano answer such questions as:when should we suspect a DRUJ injury, why is it important to pick up DRUJ injuries in the ED, and how does it change our management? Why is the lateral x-ray view so important in picking up commonly missed wrist injuries? When it comes to distal radius fractures, how are Colles vs Barton's vs Smith's fractures managed differently in the ED? What are the 2 key x-ray signs we should look for on the AP and the 2 key x-ray signs we should look for on the lateral for every wrist injury? and many more...
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