Reliability of a digital radiographic system in measuring distal radial fracture displacement parameters

Digital imaging systems have been introduced recently. We prospectively investigated the accuracy of fracture displacement measurements using digital imaging. Ten consecutive adult extra-articular distal radial fractures were chosen. Five consultants and five registrars measured pre-reduction and post-reduction radial height, radial inclination and radial tilt. Measurements were repeated after 1-week. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were measured and compared with previous studies which used plain X-ray. We calculated intraclass correlation coefficient to assess reliability and tolerance limit. All the parameters showed improved inter and intra-rater reliability compared to reported results with plain X-rays. Interrarater reliability for radial height was 0.545–0.644 and intrarater reliability was 0.550–0.647, tolerance limit was ±3.49 to ±5.47 mm. Radial inclination values were 0.535–0.624, 0.536–0.626, ±3.50° to ±7.06°. Radial tilt values were 0.539–0.889, 0.544–0.889, ±3.81° to ±7.71° respectively. We found new digital imaging more reliable in measuring distal radial fracture displacement parameters.