Occult fractures of the knee: tomographic evaluation

Conference · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · Radiology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5820428

Apple, J S; Martinez, S; Allen, N B; Caldwell, D S; Rice, J R

Seven adults with painful effusions of the knee were examined for occult fractures using pluridirectional tomograph in the coronal and lateral planes. Six patients (ages 50 to 82 years) were osteopenic and gave histories ranging from none to mild trauma; one 26-year-old man was not osteopenic and had severe trauma. In all cases, routine radiographs were interpreted as negative, but tomography demonstrated a fracture. Five fractures were subchondral. Bone scans in 2 patients were positive. The authors conclude that osteopenic patients with a painful effusion of the knee should be considered to have an occult fracture. While bone scans may be helpful, tomography is recommended as the procedure of choice to define the location and extent of the fracture.

• Research Organization: Duke Univ. Medical Center, Durham, NC
• OSTI ID: 5820428
• Journal Information: Radiology; (United States), Vol. 148:2; Conference: 68. scientific assembly and annual meeting of the radiological society of North America, Chicago, IL, USA, 28 Nov 1982
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BONE FRACTURES
DIAGNOSIS
BONE JOINTS
TOMOGRAPHY
ADULTS
LIMBS
AGE GROUPS
BODY
BODY AREAS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
INJURIES
ORGANS
SKELETON
550602* - Medicine- External Radiation in Diagnostics- (1980-)