Evaluating the Clinical Value of Oblique-View Radiographs in the Initial Intervention of Closed Distal Radius Fractures: An External Survey of Hand Surgeons

Purpose: Traditionally, an acute wrist radiograph series comprises posteroanterior, oblique, and lateral projections. There is controversy within the field of orthopedics, however, over the value of the oblique view in determining a plan of care for a given fracture. An external survey of practicing hand surgeons was conducted to evaluate whether the addition of the oblique view to a 2-view (posteroanterior and lateral) series resulted in a difference in the initial intervention plan for closed distal radius fractures (DRFs).

Methods: Participants, licensed and practicing hand surgeons in the United States, reviewed 30 sets of wrist radiograph studies twice (once as a complete 3-view series and again with the oblique omitted) in a randomized order. Cases were randomly selected to include 10 pediatric, 10 geriatric, and 10 intermediate/adult DRFs. After reviewing the films and demographic information, the participants selected their preferred initial intervention from the following list: (1) treatment using a cast or orthosis without reduction, (2) closed reduction under or without fluoroscopy with treatment using a cast or orthosis, (3) closed reduction and percutaneous fixation with treatment using a cast or orthosis, and (4) open reduction internal fixation and subsequent treatment in a cast or orthosis.

Results: A calculated Cohen kappa for the entire sample revealed a statistically significant and strong association between 2- and 3-view survey answers (κ = 0.81, P < .001). Each pairing was examined separately, and 90% of the questions had a statistically significant (P < .05) Cohen kappa pairing; however, many were in the 0.5-0.75 range.

Conclusions: The data support the hypothesis that the addition of an oblique view radiograph to a posteroanterior and lateral series does not change surgical decision-making in the initial evaluation of acute closed DRF in many situations. However, although most cases had a statistically significant (P < .05) agreement between the surveys, the oblique view did result in some meaningful intervention changes. Therefore, the elimination of the oblique view cannot be supported by our findings.

Clinical relevance: This is a decision analysis survey study designed to investigate how the oblique-view radiograph influences DRF surgical decision-making.