Radiological diagnosis of scaphoid fractures: are two views enough?

Abstract

Standard radiological diagnosis of scaphoid fractures involves four views of the wrist PA, lateral and two obliques. This amount of irradiation may be unnecessary, and previous authors have claimed that two views, Stecher (1937) (PA with 300 angulation towards the elbow giving an elongated view of scaphoid) and lateral, are of equal, or better, diagnostic accuracy. This study was performed to test the authenticity of this claim.