Journals / Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine / 2026 / Volume: 9 Issue: 2

Relationship between wrist morphology and scaphoid fracture: a CT-based case control study

El bileği morfolojisi ve skafoid kırığı arasındaki ilişki: bilgisayarlı tomografi tabanlı vaka kontrol çalışması

Yavuz Yüksel(Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology)0000-0002-3805-4245
Tarkan Ergün(Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology)0000-0002-2098-4145
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-03-12
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

However, the overall model explained a limited proportion of variance, and UV alone showed weak discrimination.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aims: To determine whether wrist morphology measured on computed tomography (CT)—in particular, ulnar variance (UV), radial inclination (RI), radial height (RH), scaphoid volar tilt (SVT), and lunate volar tilt (LVT)—is independently associated with scaphoid fracture after a fall on the outstretched hand.
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Key Findings & Data:Methods: We performed a retrospective, CT-based case–control study of 78 patients (39 CT-confirmed scaphoid fractures; 39 controls).
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Conclusion & Impact:However, the overall model explained a limited proportion of variance, and UV alone showed weak discrimination.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Wrist fractures · wrist injuries · scaphoid bone

Abstract

Aims: To determine whether wrist morphology measured on computed tomography (CT)—in particular, ulnar variance (UV), radial inclination (RI), radial height (RH), scaphoid volar tilt (SVT), and lunate volar tilt (LVT)—is independently associated with scaphoid fracture after a fall on the outstretched hand. Methods: We performed a retrospective, CT-based case–control study of 78 patients (39 CT-confirmed scaphoid fractures; 39 controls). Standardized multiplanar reconstructions were used to obtain true coronal and fossa-centered sagittal planes. Two radiologists (≥10 years’ experience) made masked, duplicate measurements; inter- and intra-observer reliability was assessed using ICCs, and good-to-excellent agreement was confirmed. Group comparisons employed t-tests or Mann–Whitney U as appropriate; independent associations were evaluated with multivariable logistic regression. Discrimination for UV was examined with ROC analysis. Results: UV was significantly more negative in the fracture group (−1.9±1.6 mm) than in controls (−1.1 ± 1.6 mm; p=0.047). In the multivariable model including RI, UV, RH, SVT, and LVT, UV was the only independent predictor (B=-0.315; OR=0.73; 95% CI 0.54–0.98; p=0.035); other parameters were not independently associated (all p>0.05). Model fit was modest (Nagelkerke R²=0.092). Using UV alone, the AUC was 0.613 (95% CI 0.479–0.732). The Youden-optimal cutoff UV <-2.35 mm yielded sensitivity 0.436 and specificity 0.795. Conclusion: On CT, more negative UV was independently associated with scaphoid fracture, whereas RI, RH, SVT, and LVT were not. However, the overall model explained a limited proportion of variance, and UV alone showed weak discrimination. Accordingly, UV should be regarded as an adjunct anatomic marker rather than a standalone tool for clinical risk stratification.

Özet

Amaç: Bilgisayarlı tomografi (BT) ile ölçülen el bileği morfolojisinin; özellikle, ulnar varyansın (UV), radial eğimin (RE), radial yüksekliğin (RY), skafoid volar eğimin (SVE) ve lunat volar eğimin (LVE) açık el üzerine düşme sonrası ortaya çıkan skafoid kırığı ile bağımsız olarak ilişkisinin olup olmadığı değerlendirildi. Yöntemler: Yetmiş sekiz hastayı içeren retrospektif, BT temelli bir olgu–kontrol çalışması yapıldı (39 BT ile doğrulanmış skafoid kırığı; 39 kontrol). Doğru koronal ve fossa merkezli sagittal düzlemler elde etmek için standartlaştırılmış multiplanar rekonstrüksiyonlar kullanıldı. İki radyolog (≥10 yıl deneyimli) körleme ve tekrarlı ölçümler yaptı; gözlemciler arası ve gözlemci içi güvenilirlik ICC kullanılarak değerlendirildi ve iyi–mükemmel uyum doğrulandı. Grup karşılaştırmaları uygun şekilde t-testi veya Mann–Whitney U testi ile yapıldı; bağımsız ilişkiler çok değişkenli lojistik regresyon ile değerlendirildi. UV’nin ayırt edici gücü ROC analizi ile incelendi. Bulgular: UV, kırık grubunda (-1.9 ± 1.6 mm) kontrol grubuna (-1.1 ± 1.6 mm) göre anlamlı olarak daha negatifti (p=0,047). RE, UV, RY, SVE ve LVE’yi içeren çok değişkenli modelde, UV tek bağımsız belirleyiciydi (B = -0,315; OR = 0,73; %95 CI 0,54–0,98; p = 0,035); diğer parametreler bağımsız olarak ilişkili değildi (p > 0,05). Model uyumu sınırlı düzeydeydi (Nagelkerke R² = 0,092). Sadece UV kullanıldığında, AUC 0,613 (%95 CI 0,479–0,732) idi. UV için, Youden-optimal eşik değeri -2,35 mm’nin altında olarak belirlendi; bu değer için duyarlılık 0,436 ve özgüllük 0,795 olarak bulundu. Sonuç: BT’de daha negatif UV, skafoid kırığı ile bağımsız olarak ilişkili bulunmuştur; buna karşın RI, RH, SVT ve LVT ile ilişki saptanmamıştır. Ancak, genel model varyansın sınırlı bir kısmını açıklamış ve yalnızca UV zayıf ayırt edicilik göstermiştir. Bu nedenle, UV klinik risk sınıflandırması için tek başına bir araç olarak değil, yardımcı bir anatomik belirteç olarak değerlendirilmelidir.

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Cite This Article

Yüksel, Y., Ergün, T. (2026). Relationship between wrist morphology and scaphoid fracture: a CT-based case control study. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, Volume: 9 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1833391

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