Condition of bone (comminuted, segmental, multiple, impacted)
Displacement
Translation (% of bone diameter) – anterior/posterior or medial/lateral
Angulation (˚) – anterior/posterior or medial/lateral
Rotation (˚)
Length distraction/shortening
For example: ‘There is an extra-articular fracture of the distal third of the right tibia. It is a complete transverse fracture. The fracture is closed. It is non-displaced.’
Glossary of terms
Completeness
Complete
Bone broken along the whole of its width
Incomplete
Bone cracked but ends not separated
Direction
Transverse
Straight break at a right-angle to the long axis of the bone
Spiral
Corkscrew type fracture due to rotation injury
Oblique
Straight break through a bone but at an angle – rare
Surrounding structural damage
Simple
Isolated bone damage, i.e. no significant soft tissue damage
Complex
Significant soft tissue damage
Closed
Skin is intact
Open/compound
Broken bone protrudes through the skin
Condition of bone
Stable
Likely to stay in a sound position during healing
Unstable
Likely to change position
Comminuted
More than two detached bone fragments
Segmental
Multiple complete fractures creating an isolated bone fragment
Multifragmentary
Several fracture lines or fragments
Impacted
Break ends are compressed together
Stress
Small crack in a bone
Greenstick
Incomplete fracture of one side of the bone resulting in bending of the bone – usually in children
Common joint pathology
Osteoarthritis (LOSS)
Loss of joint space
Osteophytes
Subchondral cysts
Subchondral sclerosis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Loss of joint space
Periarticular osteopenia
Juxta-articular (marginal) erosions – classic
Soft tissue swelling
Psoriatic arthritis
Central erosions (→ ‘pencil in cup’ appearance)
Gout
Punched out lesions in bone (periarticular tophi)
Pseudogout
Chondrocalcinosis
Common radiographs you may see
Shoulder
Anterior dislocation of glenohumeral joint: seen on AP view as humeral head lying directly below coracoid process
Posterior dislocation of glenohumeral joint (rare, but sometimes occurs during epileptic fit): humeral head looks like a lightbulb on AP view; seen clearly on apical oblique and scapula Y views, where humeral head is posterior to glenoid
Proximal humeral fracture
Clavicle fracture: occurs due to fall onto shoulder/out-stretched hand or direct trauma
Acromioclavicular joint dislocation/subluxation
Wrist
Distal radius fracture
Colles’ fracture: distal radius fracture with dorsal angulation
Smith’s fracture: distal radius fracture with volar angulation
Scaphoid fracture: scaphoid views should be requested if suspected (clinical signs: 1. anatomical snuffbox tenderness, 2. scaphoid tubercle tenderness, 3. thumb telescoping tenderness). However, fractures are often not visible on X-rays until 10 days after injury. If there is clinical suspicion, treat as a fracture and repeat X-ray in 10 days. Scaphoid fractures are important because of the risk of avascular necrosis due to retrograde blood supply.
Carpal bones
Proximal then distal row, starting at the thumb:
Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can’t Handle =
Neck of femur fracture: elderly patient after fall; may be a white line (impacted) or a black line (displaced); intracapsular fractures carry risk of avascular necrosis
Pubic ramus fracture: elderly patient after fall
Femoral head dislocation: occurs commonly after total hip replacement and in major trauma
Children and adolescents with hip pain
Perthes disease: 5-10 years; signified by increased density and decreased size of epiphysis
Slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE): 10-15 years; seen best on lateral radiograph
This patient presented with a fall and hip pain. Click the image to enlarge. Present the radiograph systematically and then answer the questions below.
What surgery has the patient undergone previously?
This patient presented with a fall and had a swollen wrist. Click the image to enlarge. Present the radiograph systematically and then answer the questions below.
This patient presented with a fall and had a painful shoulder. Click the image to enlarge. Present the radiograph systematically and then answer the questions below.