Aims and objectives
Patients involved in motor vehicle accidents or sports injuries have a high risk of carpal bone injury.
The general impression is that,
despite this relatively common complaint,
the anatomical and radiographic knowledge of the carpus is limited.
The aim of this study is to assess the anatomical knowledge and the level of awareness of normal and abnormal imaging of the carpus amongst medical students and doctors at different departments.
Methods and materials
Method of study:
A questionnaire showing normal and abnormal imaging of the carpal bones was created.
The images were randomly selected from the world wide web (refer to figures 1-7).
The participants were requested to assess whether the image looked normal or abnormal,
and to identify the abnormality if present.The questionnaire was distributed via an online website and by hand to various departments,
at Mater Dei Hospital,
Malta.
These included Accident and Emergency (A&E),
Surgery,
Medicine and Radiology.Participants were requested to state their department and...
Results
73 people were recruited in this study,
of whom 23 were medical students,
20 foundation year (FY) doctors,
18 basic specialist trainees (BST's),
4 higher specialist trainees (HST's) and 8 consultants.
Only 63.2% of the 73 participants attempted the first question to identify the anatomy of the carpal bones,
with only 48.9% giving a correct answer.
Images 2-7 aimed to assess the participants’ ability to tell between normal and abnormal and identify the abnormalitiy.Fig. 8
Combined results for all participants:
The mean precentage of participants...
Conclusion
Limitations in this study included overall small sample size and low numbers in each department and grade.
In order to increase participation ratio,
the questionnaire was distributed both by hand and via email,
which could have led to bias.
Whilst it is difficult to assert conclusions in view of the small sample,
there is an indication that a lack of knowledge on the anatomy and radiographic images of carpal bones is present across different levels within the medical profession.
This is particularly indicative amongst medical...
References
[1]Andy C.
(2010) “Functional view of the wrist” Wikiradiology.
Available online: http://www.wikiradiography.com/page/Functional+Views+of+the+Wrist(viewed March 2013)
[2] Scaphoid fracture.
Available online:
http://pages.uoregon.edu/esorens1/hphy362.pbwiki.com/Wrist%2Band%2BHand%2BPathologies.html (viewed March 2013)
[3] Dimitrios Danikas (2012).
Medscape Reference on Scapholunate Advanced Collapse.
Available online: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1244215-overview (viewed March 2013)
[4]Gilula L.
and Chesaru I.
“Wrist – Carpal Instability” The New Radiology Assistant.
Available online: http://www.radiologyassistant.nl/en/p42a29ec06b9e8/wrist-carpal-instability.html (viewed March 2013)
[5]Harris and Harris (2003) “Carpal Instabilities – lunate dislocation”.
Available online: http://www.learningradiology.com/notes/bonenotes/perilunatedislocatepage.htm (viewed March 2013)
[6] Triquetral fracture.
Available online: http://www.learningradiology.com/archives06/COW%20218-Triquetral%20fracture/triquetralfxccorrect.htm (viewed March 2013)