Occult Fractures of the Waist of the Scaphoid

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of high-spatial-resolution sonography in the diagnosis of occult fractures of the waist of the scaphoid.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Sonography of the scaphoid bone with a 12-MHz transducer was performed in 54 patients with clinicaly suspected scaphoid fracture and normal findings on initial radiographs, including specific scaphoid images. Three levels of clinical suspicion were considered: high (20%), moderate (30%), and low (50%). Attention was paid to the continuity of the scaphoid cortex and to the surrounding soft tissues (i.e., hemarthrosis or hematoma). Data from early sonograms were then compared with the results of radiography repeated 10-14 days after the initial trauma. In cases of persistent suspicion despite normal findings on follow-up radiographs, the presence of fracture was evaluated on CT (four patients), MR imaging (one patient), or bone scanning (one patient).RESULTS. Follow-up examinations proved fracture of the scaphoid waist in five p...

This publication has 31 references indexed in Scilit: