Ultrasound ability in early diagnosis of stress fracture of metatarsal bone

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases Vol. 65; no. 7; pp. 977 - 978
• Main Authors: Banal, F, Etchepare, F, Rouhier, B, Rosenberg, C, Foltz, V, Rozenberg, S, Koeger, A C, Fautrel, B, Bourgeois, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism 01-07-2006; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Adult; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - complications; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Fractures; Fractures, Stress - complications; Fractures, Stress - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Letters; Medical sciences; metatarsal; Metatarsus - diagnostic imaging; Metatarsus - injuries; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Pain; stress fracture; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography; ultrasound; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Rheumatology; Stress fracture; Metatarsal bone; Diagnosis; Bone; Trauma; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.2005.046979

[...]Howard, described only a small periosteal elevation in the area of a second metatarsal stress fracture, without any other detail, no doubt owing to an old generation sonography system. 2 In a recent series of five metatarsal stress fractures, Bodner found other sonographic features, as in our case: small fluid collection, soft tissue oedema, and colour Doppler sonography rich vascularity surrounding the fracture area. 3 All those sonographic findings correlated well with MRI. Low cost, non-invasive, fast to perform, and easy access, ultrasound is the preferred method and may in the future usefully replace MRI and bone scintigraphy in the early diagnosis of stress fracture of superficial bones.