ObjectiveThis study evaluated the intraobserver and interobserver reliability of the AO classification for standard radiographs of wrist fractures.MethodsThirty observers, divided into three groups (orthopedic surgery senior residents, orthopedic surgeons, and hand surgeons) classified 52 wrist fractures, using only simple radiographs. After a period of four weeks, the same observers evaluated the initial 52 radiographs, in a randomized order. The agreement among the observers, the groups, and intraobserver was obtained using the Kappa index. Kappa-values were interpreted as proposed by Landis and Koch.ResultsThe global interobserver agreement level of the AO classification was considered fair (0.30). The three groups presented fair global interobserver agreement (residents, 0.27; orthopedic surgeons, 0.30; hand surgeons, 0.33). The global intraobserver agreement level was moderated. The hand surgeon group obtained the higher intraobserver agreement level, although only moderate (0.50). The residents group obtained fair levels (0.30), as did the orthopedics surgeon group (0.33).ConclusionThe data obtained suggests fair levels of interobserver agreement and moderate levels of intraobserver agreement for the AO classification for wrist fractures.

Objectives: To evaluate clinically and radiologically the elbows of spinal cord injured patients and compare them to the control group. Methods: Twenty patients (10 paraplegics and 10 tetraplegics) were clinically evaluated through assessment of pain scale, measurement of active and passive range of motion, degree of muscle strength and MEPS score. They were also submitted to bilateral plain radiography of the elbows. Both groups were compared to the control group. Results: Four paraplegic and three tetraplegic patients referred mild to moderate, sporadic and motion related pain. The control group was asymptomatic. No statistic significant difference was found in passive range of motion among the three groups. The tetraplegic group showed a lower active range of motion as well as lower MEPS score as compared to the control group. Equal number of patients in the spinal cord injured patients had radiological abnormalities, but those were more severe in the tetraplegic group. Conclusion: Spinal cord injured patients presented clinical and radiological elbow abnormalities, which were more evident on tetraplegics. Level of Evidence III, Case Control.

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