Clinically SUspected ScaPhoid fracturE: treatment with supportive bandage or CasT? 'Study protocol of a multicenter randomized controlled trial' (SUSPECT study).

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Some scaphoid fractures become visible on radiographs weeks after a trauma which makes normal radiographs directly after trauma unreliable. Untreated scaphoid fractures can lead to scaphoid non-union progressing to osteoarthritis. Therefore, the general treatment for patients with a clinically suspected scaphoid fracture and normal initial radiographs is immobilisation with below-elbow cast for 2 weeks. However, most of these patients are treated unnecessarily because eventually less than 10% of them are diagnosed with an occult scaphoid fracture. To reduce overtreatment and costs as a result of unnecessary cast treatment in patients with a clinically suspected scaphoid fracture and normal initial radiographs, we designed a study to compare below-elbow cast treatment w

SUBMITTER: Cohen A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7526317 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature