Symptomatic Treatment of Distal Tubercle Fractures of the Scaphoid

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
AIM: The aim of this study is to assess whether patients with an acute distal tubercle fracture of the scaphoid treated with a removable brace for 4 to 6 weeks have the same level of symptoms and disability 6 months after injury as the average for the normal population. NULL HYPOTHESIS: Patients with an acute distal tubercle fracture of the scaphoid have Quick DASH (Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand) scores at or above the population norm (a score of 13 in Norway and 10.9 in the United States) 6 months after injury when treated symptomatically with a removable brace.

Detailed Description
-----------------
Fractures of the distal scaphoid tubercle are uncommon and seem relatively benign. Not a lot is known in literature about this specific type of avulsion fracture and the treatment. Some surgeons recommend a cast for 4 to 6 weeks while others treat their patients with a removable brace. The only non-union reported in literature is Jonssen who published a case in 1990 about a non-union of a tubercle fracture in a patient with repeated trauma. Kraus et al studied 81 cases of acute scaphoid fractures and found 4 cases of tubercle avulsion fractures in this group. We suspect some patients will not seek care for this condition as it hurts for a bit and then causes no problems. Response variables: Quick DASH measured 6 months after injury 11-point ordinal measure of overall pain intensity 6 months after trauma Explanatory variables: Socio-demographics Age, sex, ethnicity, race, marital status, education, work status Questionnaires Quick DASH after trauma (< 2 weeks) 11-point ordinal measure of overall pain intensity 6 months after trauma 11-point ordinal measure of satisfaction with treatment 6 months after trauma

Official Title
-----------------
Symptomatic Treatment of Distal Tubercle Fractures of the Scaphoid

Conditions
-----------------
Distal Tubercle Fractures of the Scaphoid

Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Age > 18 years Fracture of the distal tubercle of the scaphoid on radiographs Interval between injury and diagnosis of less than 2 months English or Spanish fluency and literacy Exclusion Criteria: Pregnant women Inability to complete enrollment forms due to any mental status or language problems (e.g. dementia, head injury, overall illness) Patients with other fractures or injuries

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Fracture of Distal Tubercle of Scaphoid<br>Questionnaires Quick DASH after trauma (< 2 weeks) 11-point ordinal measure of overall pain intensity 6 months after trauma 11-point ordinal measure of satisfaction with treatment 6 months after trauma | |

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Disability with use of QuickDASH |  | 2 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Overall Pain Intensity | Pain Intensity measured with an 11-point ordinal measure of overall pain intensity 6 months after trauma | 6 months | 
| Satisfaction with Treatment | Satisfaction measured with an 11-point ordinal measure of satisfaction with treatment 6 months after trauma | 6 months |