McCallister Wren V, Smith Jeffery M, Knight Jeff, Trumble Thomas E
Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
J Hand Surg Am. 2004 Sep;29(5):841-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2004.04.019.
The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy and reproducibility of intra-articular step-off and gap displacements measured on plain radiographs using a standard cadaver model.
Twenty-two physicians, in a blinded randomized fashion using a standard technique, examined the radiographs of 12 unique combinations of step and gap displacement created by a 3-part intra-articular osteotomy of the distal radius. Observer accuracy, inter- and intraobserver agreement, and tolerance limits were calculated.
The results of this study suggest that observers, independent of skill level, may measure step-off and gap displacements accurately to within .62 +/- .53 mm (95% confidence interval = .59-65). The accuracy of measurement was influenced by the quality of the radiograph. Intraclass correlation coefficient scores showed "substantial" (.78) to "almost perfect" (.81) inter- and intraobserver agreement.
These data can aid in the interpretation of clinical studies of acute distal radius fractures that are based on plain radiography.