Table 2

Author, date, and country	Patient group	Study type (level of evidence)	Outcomes	Key results	Study weaknesses
PRCT = prospective randomised controlled trial.
Duncan and Thurston, 1985, UK¹	108 patients with a diagnosis of clinical fracture of the scaphoid	Retrospective survey	Proportion of patients found to have a fracture	0 of 108 (0%)
DaCruz et al, 1988, UK²	150 wrists immobilised on plaster with suspected scaphoid fracture	Retrospective survey	Fracture rate	8 of 150 (5.33%)
Sjolin and Andersen, 1988, Denmark³	108 clinically suspected scaphoid fractures	PRCT	Fracture rate	7 of 108	Only 2 weeks follow up
	Plaster cast v supportive bandage		Sick leave for manual workers	14 v 4 days
Jacobsen et al, 1995, Denmark⁴	231 clinically suspected scaphoid fractures	Retrospective survey	Proportion of patients found to have a fracture	3 of 231 (1.3%)