Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36166437›Full record

ArticlePloS one2022

A new quantitative 3D gap area measurement of fracture displacement of intra-articular distal radius fractures: Reliability and clinical applicability.

Lisanne J M Roelofs, Anne M L Meesters, Nick Assink, Joep Kraeima, Tim D Van der Meulen, Job N Doornberg, Jean-Paul P M De Vries, Joost Hoekstra, Kaj Ten Duis, Frank F A IJpma

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Long-term patient-reported outcomes after nonoperative treatment of distal radial fractures: what CT-based gaps and step-offs can be accepted?European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Lisanne J M RoelofsDepartment of Surgery, Subdivision of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-9928-4135
Anne M L MeestersDepartment of Surgery, Subdivision of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Nick AssinkDepartment of Surgery, Subdivision of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Joep Kraeima3D Lab/Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Tim D Van der MeulenDepartment of Surgery, Subdivision of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Job N DoornbergDepartment of Surgery, Subdivision of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Jean-Paul P M De VriesDepartment of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Joost HoekstraDepartment of Surgery, Subdivision of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Kaj Ten DuisDepartment of Surgery, Subdivision of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Frank F A IJpmaDepartment of Surgery, Subdivision of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionGap and step-off measurements are generally used in the surgical decision-making process of distal radius fractures. Unfortunately, there is no consensus on treatment choice as these measurements are prone to inter- and intraobserver variability. In this study, we aim to introduce a new 3D fracture quantification method and compare it to conventional fracture analysis.

methodsForty patients with a minimally displaced intra-articular distal radius fracture that was treated nonoperatively between 2008-2015 were included. 2D-CT images were reassessed by three orthopedic trauma surgeons who performed gap and step-off measurements. Subsequently, 3D models were created and a 3D measurement method for fracture displacement was developed. For each fracture, the '3D gap area' (3D surface between all fracture fragments) was determined by three observers. Interobserver agreements were calculated for all measurements, and the intraobserver agreement was calculated for the new 3D measurement. All patients completed two questionnaires in order to link our measurements to functional outcome.

resultsThe interobserver agreement of the 2D measurements was fair (ICC = 0.54) for the gap and poor (ICC = 0.21) for the step-off. The median gap was 2.8 (IQR: 1.9-3.5) mm and step-off was 0.9 (IQR: 0.0-1.6) mm. Interobserver agreement on 3D gap area measurements was excellent (ICC = 0.81), with a median difference between measurements of 6.0 (IQR: 2.0-19.0) mm2, which indicates reliable assessment of 3D fracture displacement. Intraobserver agreement was also excellent (ICC = 0.98), with a median difference of 4.0 (IQR: 1.5-5.5) mm2. No significant differences in clinical outcome were found between the above and below 2mm displacement groups. The score of the DASH was 3.4 (IQR: 0.4-8.8) versus 4.2 (IQR: 0.0-11.6) respectively. Results from the PRWE questionnaire shows a similar result of 3.5 (IQR: 0.0-12.6) versus 5.0 (IQR: 0.0-25.5).

conclusion3D gap area is a more objective measurement method compared to the conventional gap and step-off measurements to quantify the level of fracture displacement of distal radius fractures. 3D fracture assessment can be used in addition to the currently used classification systems of distal radius fractures.

Indexed as

Orthopedic SurgeonsRadius FracturesHumansObserver VariationReproducibility of ResultsTomography, X-Ray Computed

Identifiers

PMID36166437
PMCPMC9514643

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