Application Fracture sonography

1 application

1.1 physical basis
1.2 visualization , limitations
1.3 diagnosis

application
physical basis

in fracture sonography, regular 4 12 mhz linear transducers used in b-mode (medical ultrasonography) standard ultrasound devices. high-impedance difference between bone , soft tissue causes complete reflection of acoustic waves @ bone s surface. result, bone surface seen, , underlying structures not seen.

visualization , limitations

comparison of ultrasound , x-ray of proximal humerus fracture

with fracture sonography, surface of extremity bones not covered other bones can seen. thus, joint facets cannot accessed. vertebral structures not suitable ultrasound fracture diagnosis.

the additional imaging of soft tissue haematomas, joint effusion, , blood vessels advantage on x-ray-imaging.

due size of linear transducer, limited section of bone can visualized, longer fractures may require step-by-step assessments.

diagnosis

fracture sonography suitable diagnosis of fractures of shaft , metaphysis of bones. because cortical surface can visualized, sonography suitable specific fractures. joint fractures cannot assessed properly. sonography feasible in growing bone.

for adult patients, sonography can used rule out increasing deformity of fractures.