Techniques in hand & upper extremity surgery
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Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg · Jun 2019
The Saline Load Test is Effective at Diagnosing Traumatic Arthrotomies of the Wrist.
The saline load test has previously been shown to be an effective tool to diagnose traumatic arthrotomies, but no studies have assessed the test's efficacy in the wrist. The purpose of this study was to investigate the amount of fluid required during a saline load test to detect intra-articular wrist involvement of traumatic wounds with high sensitivity. ⋯ This study demonstrates the efficacy of the saline load test in detecting traumatic arthrotomies of the wrist joint with 95% sensitivity after loading 7 mL of saline. Prompt and accurate diagnosis of traumatic arthrotomies is paramount to guide management and optimize postinjury outcomes.