Wrist fractures: What the clinician wants to know

With the recent improvements in diagnosis and treatment of distal radius an d carpal injuries, the hand surgeons' expectations of relevant radiologic i nterpretation of imaging studies are heightened. Conventional radiographic examinations, as well as more sophisticated and invasive studies, have impo rtant roles in the evaluation of wrist fractures and dislocations. On the b asis of physical examination results and the mechanism of injury, the onus is on the examining surgeon to pinpoint potential sites of bone or ligament disruption. After this evaluation, appropriate imaging studies appropriate ly performed and interpreted will help direct treatment and improve outcome with greater clarity and certainty.