Scope and limitations of ultrasonography in the documentation of fractures : an experimental study

• Published in: Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery Vol. 117; no. 6-7; pp. 368 - 371
• Main Authors: GRECHENIG, W, CLEMENT, H. G, FELLINGER, M, SEGGL, W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-07-1998; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Bone and Bones - anatomy & histology; Bone and Bones - diagnostic imaging; Cadaver; Fractures; Fractures, Bone - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Joints; Medical sciences; Sensitivity and Specificity; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonography - methods; Sonography; Human; Surveillance; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Fracture; Bone; Experimental study; Trauma; Cicatrization; In vitro
• ISSN: 0936-8051; 1434-3916
• DOI: 10.1007/s004020050268

Sonographic studies were performed on cadaveric bones placed in a water bath, using 7.5-MHz linear-array transducers and 3.5-MHz sector transducers. Depending on its size, the defect was revealed as an interruption of the cortical reflection of echo or a dorsal band of echoes confined to the region of the fracture. It was interesting to note that fractures and bony defects are not visualized when the transducer is placed parallel to the fracture line or the zone of bony impaction. A further remarkable aspect was the numerous artefacts adjacent to each other at several fracture margins. It may be concluded that in an experimental setting and under standardized conditions, high-resolution transducers permit the examiner to detect cortical discontinuities of 1 mm or more.