Hand injuries in adults.

The radiologist plays an important role in the evaluation of hand injuries. Although the detection of fractures is important, recognition and delineation of soft tissue damage is equally vital. If only soft tissue injuries exist, plain film findings are often nonspecific. Nevertheless, they can give helpful clues in evaluating ligaments and tendons. It is especially important for the radiologist to be knowledgeable of these soft tissue injuries because, in an emergency room setting, the radiologist may be the physician most familiar with the spectrum of injuries and possible complications.