investigation of fracture

Question 1

whats used to diagnose majority of fractures

Answer 1

x-rays

Question 2

how many views of x-ray are usually required

Answer 2

2= AP and lateral

Question 3

what other view might be beneficial and why

Answer 3

oblique view for complex shaped bones such as the scaphoid, acetabulum and tibial plateau and posterior shoulder dislocations

Question 4

tomogram

Answer 4

moving x-ray used for diagnosing mandibular fractures

Question 5

CT scan

Answer 5

used to assess fractures of complex bones (vertebrae, pelvis, calcaneus, scapular glenoid) and can help to determine degree of articular cartilage and surgical planning for complex intra-articular fractures

Question 6

MRI

Answer 6

used when x-rays are negative but there is still high clinical suspicion of a fracture

Question 7

technetium bone scans

Answer 7

used to detect stress fractures (i.e. 2nd metatarsal) which don’t tend to show on x-rays until hard callus forms which may take weeks