Barzilai University Medical Center

89 Research Day 2020 Barzilai University Medical Center 64 RADIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURE HEALING BY TIME: ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON VERSUS QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF IMAGE PROCESSING. Maria Oulianski, Ruslan Sokolov, Omri Lubovsky Oulianski Maria, Lubovsky Omri Department of Orthopedy, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon Faculty of Health Studies, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel Background Distal radius fractures account for one-sixth of the total fractures seen in the emergency department, yet there is no published data for the radiographic fracture healing criteria formation nor about the agreement on those criteria between different surgeon healing assessment based on clinical and radiological examinations. Clinical criteria mostly asses pain, tenderness, ability to bear weight, and performing activities in our daily life. Radiologic assessment based mainly on x-rays examinations . Common radiological measurements in use are the formation of bridging callus, presence of fracture line, and bridging of fracture sites or sites of fracture edges from which theoretically we can determine the stage of union. Delayed assessment of non-united fracture can lead to patients' morbidity and deformities; early intervention can lead to unnecessary operations. Hypothesis A quantitative assessment of the commonly accepted radiographic parameters for evaluation of fracture repair allows reliable identification of fracture healing acknowledgment among all orthopedic surgeons. Objectives Evaluation of the agreement between orthopedic surgeons on radiographic parameters of distal radius fracture healing by time. Results The degree of agreement among surgeons was "good" (Cronbach's alpha). Callus formation – 0.8, bridging of fracture sites – 0.775, blurring of fracture line gap – 0.795. Timeline based on the specific week and grading system made. Radiographic detection of callus formation had seen after the second film. Between 6 and 9 weeks, an agreement achieved among surgeons for more than half of the patients for the blurring of the fracture gap. Conclusions Radiographic healing progression of the distal radius can be detected after 6 and 9 weeks in all three parameters with good agreement between different surgeons. A timeline graph like the one that was made in this model could be used for the follow-up of patients' fractures healing or early detection of non-union.