Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Trauma, Computer Applications-Detection, diagnosis, Conventional radiography, CT, Emergency
Authors:
J. Salceda Artola1, J. M. Mellado1, R. Bermejo Garcés2, N. Yanguas1, S. Solanas1, J. Martín Cuartero1, S. Solchaga2, R. M. Cozcolluela Cabrejas1; 1Tudela/ES, 2Pamplona/ES
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2012/C-2035
Background
The radiographic diagnosis of fractures of the proximal femur is usually straightforward.
However,
the suboptimal quality of some emergency plain films may represent a significant challenge for the radiologist on call.
A thorough knowledge of normal anatomy,
anatomic variations and non-anatomical pitfalls is required for interpreting these radiographs.
In spite of specific training,
fractures with subtle or misleading radiographic presentation may still cause diagnostic dilemmas.
More importantly,
they may be missed unless advanced crossectional imaging is performed.
In our clinical practice,
we have found 64-slice MDCT to be a useful modality for solving diagnostic dilemmas in the clinical setting of hip trauma or hip pain.
Also,
we have learnt that routine retrospective correlation of MDCT images with plain films may be most helpful in order to understand the complex radiologic anatomy of proximal femur and its pitfalls.