2 - Radiology of MSK Flashcards

1
Q

In an x-ray of a bone what can you see?

A
  • Cortical and medullary bone
  • Can’t see soft tissue

- Articular cartilage appears as joint space

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2
Q

What can x-rays be used to image?

A
  • Fractures
  • Joint dislocation
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Arthritis
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3
Q

What is a fracture and what are the different types of fracture?

A
  • A complete or incomplete break in the continuity of bone
  • Can see luscent lines on x-ray
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4
Q

What is a compression fracture?

A

Occur in cancellous bone when axial load compresses bone beyond limit, difficult to see fracture line

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5
Q

What is a greenstick fracture?

A

Incomplete fractures in which the bone bends and cracks instead of breaking into separate pieces. Cortex on one side fractures. Occurs more in children as their bones are more soft and flexible

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6
Q

What is an epiphyseal separation fracture?

A

Fracture line extends through an unfused growth plate separate metaphysis and epiphysis. Seen in overweight adolescent boys during rapid growth spurts, have a limp and hip pain

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7
Q

What radiographich changes can be seen at the epiphysis of long bones as a child ages?

A

Chondyles grow with age as the cartilage ossifies, the older the child, the larger the epiphysis. Eventually the dark line of the growth plate fuses.

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8
Q

What is bone age?

A

- Look at degree of ossification of carpal bones, more bones means older

- Look at maturation of growth plates

HELPS YOU TO KNOW THE MATURITY OF THE CHILDS MSK SYSTEM

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9
Q

What are the stages of fracture healing?

A

Inflammatory –> Reparative –> Remodelling

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10
Q

What can you see radiographically with fracture healing?

A

Day 1 - Swelling

Day 4 - Soft callus forming

Day 14 - Hard callus on x-ray

Month 6 - Remodelling of callus so fracture line obscured

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11
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of CT scan for bone fractures?

A

+ Can see subtle undisplaced fractures

+ Soft tissue detail better than plain radiograph

+ Spiral and complex fractures can be seen much easier so good for pre-operative planning

+ Minutes

  • Motion artefact
  • Allergic to contrast
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12
Q

When looking at a CT scan how do you work out the colours?

A

Air, fat and water = black

soft tissue = grey

bone = white

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13
Q

What are CT windows?

A

Manipulating the grey scale so different features and tissues can be focused on

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14
Q

What contrast is used mainly in MRI?

A

Gadolinium

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15
Q

What are the three different ways to weight an image with MRI?

A

T1: Water is black and fat is bright

T2: Water and fat are bright

STIR (fluid sensistive): Fat is dark and fluid is bright

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16
Q

What are T1, T2 and STIR best for imaging?

A

T1 = anatomy

T2 = pathology

STIR = oedema

17
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of ultrasound in MSK imaging?

A

+ No radiation

+ Excellent superficial soft tissue resolution

+ Assess nerve and tendons

+ Dynamic and image guided intervention

+ Fluid collections

  • Poor deep resolution
  • User dependent
18
Q

What will fluid appear as on an ultrasound?

A

Black

19
Q

What is nuclear imaging used to diagnose?

A
  • Areas with high metabolic activity
  • Bone forming metastatic lesions, healing fractures, osteomyelitis