The Validity and Reliability of a Pocket-Sized Ultrasound to Diagnose Distal Radius Fracture and Assess Quality of Closed Reduction.

PURPOSE: Handheld ultrasound technology is increasingly used in health care. Its use for fracture care has not been adequately evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate handheld, pocket-sized ultrasound in the diagnosis and assessment of reductions in distal radius fractures.

METHODS: A total of 23 patients with distal radius fractures (average age, 53 years; 13 women) and 20 control patients (average age, 53 years; 10 women) were prospectively enrolled. All patients with distal radius fractures underwent standard, 3-view radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations of the wrist before and after closed reduction. Control patients had a one-time standard radiographic and ultrasonographic examination of the wrist. Radiographs were used as the reference standard. All images were assessed for the presence or absence of a fracture by a board-certified, hand fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon and musculoskeletal fellowship-trained radiologist who were blinded to the study protocol. If a fracture was detected, the adequacy of reduction was assessed.

RESULTS: The sensitivity of distal radius fracture diagnosis on ultrasound was 100% and specificity ranged from 90% to 95%. The sensitivity of identifying a satisfactory reduction ranged from 76% to 93% and specificity was 93% to 94%. Interrater reliability between the musculoskeletal radiologist and hand surgeon was κ = 0.86 for diagnosing the fracture and κ = 0.82 for identifying a satisfactory reduction. Intrarater reliability ranged from κ = 0.82 to 0.86.

CONCLUSIONS: A pocket-sized, handheld diagnostic ultrasound device demonstrates the ability to diagnose distal radius fractures and assess fracture reductions.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic II.