Concurrent Proximal Fractures Are Rare in Distal Forearm Fractures: A National Cross-sectional Study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Distal forearm fractures (DFF) account for 1.5% of emergency department (ED) visits in the United States. Clinicians frequently obtain imaging above/below the location of injury to rule out additional injuries. We sought to determine the incidence of associated proximal fractures (APF) in the setting of DFF and to evaluate the imaging practices in a nationally representative sample of EDs.

Methods

We queried the 2013 National Emergency Department Sample using International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition, diagnostic codes for DFF and APF. Current Procedural Technology codes identified associated imaging studies. We calculated national estimates using a weighted analysis of patient and hospital-level characteristics associated with APF and imaging practic

SUBMITTER: Negaard M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6754191 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature