Cost and clinical effectiveness of MRI in occult scaphoid fractures: a randomised controlled trial

This report has been verified by one or more authors of the original publication.

91 patients with an occult scaphoid fracture were randomized to either receive an MRI of their wrist or conventional management (immobilisation), in order to decide if early MRI was more clinically and cost effective than immobilisation. Following evaluations over 42 days, results indicated that early MRI scans allowed for increased patient satisfaction and decreased clinical appointment and radiographs, compared to immobilisation. However, no significant differences existed between the two methods in regards to cost of management per patient.