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Is there a need for standardized postoperative radiographs after operative treatment of wrist or ankle fractures?

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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of changes in treatment plan due to standardized postoperative radiographs. A secondary aim was to compare our results with a national benchmark.

Methods

This is a single-center retrospective case series of 167 consecutive patients, operated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for distal radius or ankle fractures in 2014. Changes in the treatment protocol were defined as additional CT-imaging, reoperation or other changes as stated in the postoperative instructions. In addition, a national survey was conducted assessing differences between surgeons in different hospitals concerning revision rates.

Results

In 7.2% (12/167) of the patients, a change in the treatment plan was recorded after the standardized postoperative radiographs. 10 patients (6%) were reoperated (three without additional imaging, seven after additional imaging with CT). The results from our survey showed a good assessment concerning the quality of intraoperative imaging (7.85 on a scale from 0 to 10). Concerning the revision rate, there was a trend to lower revision rate of 8.1% in the six observers.

Conclusions

Standard postoperative radiographs could improve quality of care. Intraoperative standardized radiographic documentation is needed and the perception and acceptance of quality may vary between hospitals.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge N. Ruzza, C. Michelitsch, J.Winkler and M.Alnaib for their help and input.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, P.O. Box 6000, Spitalstrasse 16, 6000, Lucerne, Switzerland

    Florian Oehme, Björn Christian Link, Reto Babst & Frank J. P. Beeres

  2. Department of Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Graubünden, P.O.Box 170, Loëstrasse 170, 7000, Chur, Switzerland

    Herman Frima

  3. Department of Surgery—Traumatology, Amsterdam Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Tim Schepers

  4. Department of Surgery, Medical Center Haaglanden, Lijnbaan 32, 2512 VA, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Steven J. Rhemrev

Authors
  1. Florian Oehme
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  2. Herman Frima
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  3. Tim Schepers
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  4. Steven J. Rhemrev
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  5. Reto Babst
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  6. Frank J. P. Beeres
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frank J. P. Beeres.

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Conflict of interest

F. Oehme, B. C. Link, H. Frima, T. Schepers, S. J. Rhemrev, R. Babst and F. J. P. Beeres declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research involving human participants and/or animals

No animals were included in this trial.

Informed consent

There was no informed consent requested in this trial. No personal or confidential data were included in this analysis.

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Oehme, F., Link, B.C., Frima, H. et al. Is there a need for standardized postoperative radiographs after operative treatment of wrist or ankle fractures?. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 45, 1039–1044 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-018-0977-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-018-0977-9

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