Low Dose CT Distal Radius Fractures

The purpose of this study is to compare the use of a conventional dose computed tomography
scan (C-CT) to a low dose computed tomography scan (L-CT) in the assessment of articular
displacement, and development of a treatment plan for intraarticular distal radius fractures
in an effort to reduce the radiation exposure to future patients with this injury pattern.
Reviewers will be tasked with reporting data aimed at investigating 3 primary outcome
measures: 1) Are L-CT images of sufficient quality to be used for diagnostic purposes, 2) Can
accurate measurements of step and gap displacement be made on L-CT images, 3) Do proposed
treatment plans change with the use of L-CT relative to those chosen based on C-CT images We
hypothesize that reviewers will find L-CT images of sufficient image quality for diagnostic
purposes, measurements of step and gap displacement will not be significantly different
between L-CT and C-CT, and no significant differences in treatment options will be chosen
based on the use of L-CT rather than C-CT for the same fracture. The secondary aim will be to
evaluate the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of L-CT in evaluating intraarticular
fractures of the distal radius.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Subjects must be age 18 years or older.

- Subject must have sustained an intraarticular distal radius fracture which undergo
closed reduction and application of a below-elbow splint.

- Subjects whos injury occurred less than 2 weeks prior to the time of enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Subject is under the age of 18 years.

- Subject is unable to speak English for completion of consent process.

- Subject sustained pathologic fracture.

- Subject sustained open fracture.

- Subject is a pregnant woman.