US versus conventional radiography in the diagnosis of sternal fractures

• Published in: Acta radiologica (1987) Vol. 41; no. 3; p. 296
• Main Authors: Engin, G, Yekeler, E, Güloğlu, R, Acunaş, B, Acunaş, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-05-2000
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fractures, Bone - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Joint Dislocations - diagnostic imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Radiography, Thoracic; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sternum - diagnostic imaging; Sternum - injuries; Thoracic Injuries - complications; Ultrasonography; Wounds, Nonpenetrating - complications
• ISSN: 0284-1851
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0455.2000.041003296.x

To investigate the value of ultrasonography (US) in the diagnosis of sternal fractures.
Twenty-three patients (mean age 35.4 years) with a clinical suspicion of sternal fracture after blunt chest trauma were retrospectively reviewed. At admission, a.p. and lateral chest radiographies and sternal US were obtained. Sternal fractures were classified as nondisplaced or displaced. US and conventional radiographic findings were compared.
In 3/23 (13.0%) of the patients, no fracture was found by radiography or by US. Both radiography and US demonstrated sternal fractures in 16/23 (69.6%) of the patients. Sternal fractures were detected only by US while the conventional radiography was negative in 2/23 (8.7%) cases. Also in 2/23 (8.7%) of the patients with US positive for fracture, radiographies were suspicious. In 2 patients, the degree of fracture displacement on US was lesser than that found by radiography.
US was better than lateral radiography to diagnose sternal fractures; however, conventional radiography remains the standard means of demonstrating grade of displacement.