Occult distal radial fractures.

The radiological diagnosis of distal radial fractures is usually easy, but some fractures without displacement cannot be detected at the first examination. In this retrospective study of 626 wrist injuries diagnosed as "wrist sprain" we found 39 distal radial fractures which were discovered only after repeated examinations. The incidence of distal radial fractures was much higher than other wrist fractures that were diagnosed after repeated examinations. Repeat standard four-view X-ray examination, as well as other imaging methods, are necessary to diagnose these fractures.