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Singer AD, Huynh T, Wong P, Sharma GB, Gonzalez F, Umpierrez M, Schenker ML, Moore TJ. CT can stratify patients as low risk for tibial neuropathy following a talus fracture. Emerg Radiol 2019; 26:541-548. [PMID: 31286323 DOI: 10.1007/s10140-019-01706-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Determine the incidence of tibial neuropathy following talus fractures and CT's ability to stratify patients at risk for developing post-traumatic neuropathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this IRB-approved retrospective analysis, 71 talus fractures and 8 contralateral control ankle CTs were reviewed by one observer blinded to clinical information. CT evidence suggestive of tibial neurovascular bundle injury included nerve displacement, perineural fat effacement/edema, and bone touching nerve. The association between these CT findings and clinically evident tibial neuropathy was analyzed. A semi-quantitative likelihood score was assigned based on the degree of the CT findings around the nerve. Interobserver agreement was calculated between 2 other readers. RESULTS Twenty-five percent of patients in this cohort had clinical evidence of tibial neuropathy. There was a high specificity (0.87-0.93) and negative predictive value (0.83-0.87), a moderate accuracy (0.80-0.82), but a lower sensitivity (0.33-0.56) associated with the CT findings. Among the CT findings, nerve displacement (p < 0.0001) and bone touching nerve (p = 0.01) were associated with tibial neuropathy. A likelihood score of 2-5 was associated (p = 0.007-0.015) with tibial neuropathy. The presence of tibial neuropathy and nerve recovery were not associated with hospital length of stay, while CT findings were. There was substantial agreement between the three readers: likelihood scores 2+ (k = 0.78) and 3+ (k = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS Tibial neuropathy occurs following talus fractures, and CT findings may help surgeons narrow down the number of patients requiring close neurological follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam D Singer
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences Section of Musculoskeletal Imaging, Emory University Hospital, 59 Executive Park South, 4th Floor Suite 4009, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
| | - Tony Huynh
- School of Medicine, Augusta State University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Phil Wong
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences Section of Musculoskeletal Imaging, Emory University Hospital, 59 Executive Park South, 4th Floor Suite 4009, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | | | - Felix Gonzalez
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences Section of Musculoskeletal Imaging, Emory University Hospital, 59 Executive Park South, 4th Floor Suite 4009, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Monica Umpierrez
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences Section of Musculoskeletal Imaging, Emory University Hospital, 59 Executive Park South, 4th Floor Suite 4009, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Mara L Schenker
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Thomas J Moore
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA, USA
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