Diagnosing fractures: pain intensity and subjective functional impairment are unreliable markers for initial assessment of possible extremity fractures.

OBJECTIVES

The triage of trauma patients is based on patient-given information. The aim of the study was the accuracy of pain intensity, subjective functional impairment, trauma history, and clinical examination in identifying patients with fractures.

METHODS

We prospectively asked 436 patients with an extremity trauma whether they believed they had a fracture. Pain intensity and subjective functional impairment were also assessed. The physicians were also asked, based on trauma history and clinical examination.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity of patient opinion and of the functional questions for fracture detection were low. The combination of history and clinical examination delivered the best results. There was only a slight difference in pain intensity between patients with and those without fractures.

CONCLUSION

Fracture diagnosis based only on patient opinion or subjective functional impairment can be misleading. Pain intensity needs further investigation for its role in fracture detection.