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Minimally displaced extraarticular distal radial fractures have little or no shortening (usually 2 mm or less) and Jess than J 5° loss of dorsal angulation.1·2 These fractures all appear rather innocuous to the untrained eye. The difference between those that are stable and those that are not stable are subtle but distinguishable.
Charnley3 recognized that the stability of extraarticular distal radial fractures was related to the extent of dorsal comminution but did not define any precise measurements to differentiate the two. Weber4 noted instability occurred when dorsal comminution extended palmward past the lateral midaxial line of the radius. This defect sometimes can be clearly seen on lateral radiograph while on other occasions lateral tomography or computed axial tomography (CAT) scan is necessary.
We offer the "shelf sign" to separate...
