MRI shows a high incidence of carpal fractures in children with posttraumatic radial-sided wrist tenderness

Figures & data

Figure 1. Distribution of 74 fractures diagnosed with MRI in 90 wrists.

Figure 2. The distribution of concomitant fractures of the scaphoid, capitate, and distal radius in 90 injured wrists.

Table 1. Number of fractures and sensitivity of radiographs compared to that of MRI in children and adolescents with posttraumatic radial-sided wrist tenderness

	Scaphoid	Distal radius	Capitate	Metacarpal	Triquetrum	Hamate	Trapezoid
MRI, n	48	8	7	6	3	1	1
Plain radiographs, n	26	4	0	3	1	0	0
Sensitivity (%)	54	50	0	50	33	0	0
95% CI	39–69	18–90	0–41	12–88	1–91	0–98	0–98

Table 2. Number of fractures and sensitivity of CT compared to that of MRI in children and adolescents with posttraumatic radial-sided wrist tenderness

	Scaphoid	Distal radius	Capitate	Metacarpal	Triquetrum	Hamate	Trapezoid
MRI, n	48	8	7	6	3	1	1
CT, n [CT performed]	43 [45]	3 [3]	4 [6]	1 [2]	1 [2]	1 [1]	1 [1]
Sensitivity (%)	96	100	67	50	50	100	100
95% CI	85–99	16–100	22–96	1–99	1–99	3–100	3–100

Figure 3. Anatomical distribution of scaphoid fractures.

A. Immature wrists with open epiphyses (open epiphyses of first metacarpal).

B. Mature wrists with closed epiphyses.