The universal availability of CT scanners has led to lower thresholds for imaging despite significant financial costs and radiation exposure. We hypothesized that this recent trend increased the use of CT for upper limb articular fractures and led to more frequent operative management.

A 5-year retrospective study (01/07/2005–30/06/2010) was performed on all adult patients with upper extremity articular fractures (AO: 1.1, 1.3, 2.1 and 2.3) admitted to a Level-1 Trauma Centre. Patients were identified from the institutions prospectively maintained AO classification database.

A total of 1651 patients with 1735 upper extremity articular fractures were identified. 1131 (65%) fractures were operated on. 556 (32%) fractures had CT imaging, 429 (77%) of these had operative management. 289 (17%) patients had multiple injuries and 168 (10%) received a scan of at least 1 other body region. There was a gradual increase in CT use and operative management 1.1, 1.3 and 2.1 fractures. Operation rates for 2.3 fractures unchanged but CT imaging frequency declined. In patients younger than 55 years operative management remained stable at 71% throughout the 5-year period considering all four regions. Overall CT use was stable at 38%, however scan rates for distal radius decreased but for proximal forearm increased.

The operative management of patients older than 55 years has increased significantly from 56% in 2005, to 70% in 2010. The most marked increase was observed in proximal humerus fractures. Except for 2.3 fractures, CT rates showed similar but less pronounced increases.

There is no increase in CT usage and operative management in younger upper limb articular fracture patients. CT utilization is even decreasing in distal radius fractures. Older patients are less likely to get CT scanned but there is a significant increase in operative management of their upper limb articular fractures.