Abstract
Purpose
Paediatric long-bone fractures are commonly seen in the emergency department, and diagnosis is usually confirmed by conventional radiographs. This entails exposure to ionizing radiation with its attendant possible carcinogenic and teratogenic effects. Ultrasonography provides a potentially safer diagnostic alternative and may be cheaper, more readily available, and user-friendly. This study aimed to establish the applicability of ultrasound scanning compared with plain radiography in fracture diagnosis.
Methods
This prospective observational study documented fracture characteristics using plain radiographs and compared these with findings on ultrasound assessment of same fractures at the time of injury. Scans were repeated at week three and week six to monitor treatment in those whom the mode of treatment did not preclude scanning. Outcome measures were compared for relationships including sensitivity and specificity as well as overall predictive values.
Results
The age range of the 62 subjects enrolled was one to 15 years and the male to female ratio was 1.8:1. Plain radiographs diagnosed 52 fractures and 50 of these were recognized on ultrasound. The two false-negative ultrasound scans were noted in metaphyseal humeral fractures. Overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for ultrasonography were 96.2%, 100%, 100%, and 83.3% respectively. Ultrasound scans were also noted to identify callus formation significantly earlier than plain radiographs.
Conclusion
Ultrasound shows potential as a tool in diagnosis of paediatric fractures but may be limited in fractures around metaphyseal bone. Due to the ability to detect callus formation much earlier, ultrasonography may be very useful in monitoring of fracture healing.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adesunkanmi AK, Oginni LM, Oyelami AO, Badru OS (1998) Epidemiology of childhood injury. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 44(3):506–511
Alpern ER, Stanley RM, Gorelick MH, Donaldson A, Knight S, Teach SJ et al (2006) Epidemiology of a pediatric emergency medicine research network: the PECARN Core Data Project. Pediatr Emerg Care 22(10):689–699
Marshburn TH, Legome E, Sargsyan A, Li SM, Noble VA, Dulchavsky SA et al (2004) Goal-directed ultrasound in the detection of long-bone fractures. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 57(2):329–332
World Health Organization Report. Essential health technologies strategy 2004–2007; (2003). http://www.who.int/eht/en/EHT_strategy_2004-2007.pdf
Hill CK, Kumar P (2011) Radiation carcinogenesis. In: Encyclopedia of Cancer, pp 3134–3137
Barata I, Spencer R, Suppiah A, Raio C, Ward MF, Sama A (2012) Emergency ultrasound in the detection of pediatric long-bone fractures. Pediatr Emerg Care 28(11):1154–1157
Alzen G, Duque-Reina D, Urhahn R, Solbach G (1992) Radiographic examination of injuries in children. Clinical and legal considerations about indications. Dtsch Med Wochensch 117(10):363–367
Bentohami A, Walenkamp MM, Slaar A, Beerekamp MS et al (2011) Amsterdam wrist rules: a clinical decision aid. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 12(1):238
Heyworth J (2003) Ottawa ankle rules for the injured ankle. Br J Sports Med 37(3):194–194
McGinn TG, Guyatt GH, Wyer PC, Naylor CD et al (2000) Evidence-based medicine working group. Users’ guides to the medical literature: XXII: how to use articles about clinical decision rules. JAMA 284(1):79–84
Stiell IG, Greenberg GH, Wells GA, McDowell I et al (1996) Prospective validation of a decision rule for the use of radiography in acute knee injuries. JAMA 75(8):611–615
Hubner U, Schlicht W, Outzen S, Barthel M et al (2000) Ultrasound in the diagnosis of fractures in children. JBJS(Br) 82(8):1170–1173
Williamson D, Watura R, Cobby M (2000) Ultrasound imaging of forearm fractures in children: a viable alternative? J Accid Emerg Med 17(1):22–24
Grechenig W, Clement HG, Fellinger M, Seggl W (1998) Scope and limitations of ultrasonography in the documentation of fractures–an experimental study. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 117(6–7):368–371
Weinberg ER, Tunik MG, Tsung JW (2010) Accuracy of clinician-performed point-of-care ultrasound for the diagnosis of fractures in children and young adults. Injury 41(8):862–868
Levin DC, Rao VM, Maitino AJ, Parker L, Sunshine JH (2004) Comparative increases in utilization rates of ultrasound examinations among radiologists, cardiologists, and other physicians from 1993 to 2001. J Am Coll Radiol 1(8):549–552
Garra G, Singer AJ, Taira BR, Chohan J et al (2010) Validation of the Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale in pediatric emergency department patients. Acad Emerg Med 17(1):50–54
Ibrahim T, Aldahamsheh OM, Hegazy A, Ghomrawi HM (2018) Applicability of the AAOS appropriate-use criteria for distal radius fractures in surgical practice. Int Orthop 42(1):197–202
Sinikumpu JJ, Pokka T, Victorzon S, Lindholm EL, Serlo W (2017) Paediatric lateral humeral condylar fracture outcomes at twelve years follow-up as compared with age and sex matched paired controls. Int Orthop 41(7):1453–1461
Swischuk LE, Hernandez JA (2004) Frequently missed fractures in children (value of comparative views). Emerg Radiol 11(1):22–28
Waterbrook AL, Adhikari S, Stolz U, Adrion C (2013) The accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound to diagnose long bone fractures in the ED. Am J Emerg Med 31(9):1352–1356
Rabiner JE, Khine H, Avner JR, Friedman LM, Tsung JW (2013) Accuracy of point-of-care ultrasonography for diagnosis of elbow fractures in children. Ann Emerg Med 61(1):9–17
de Neira JZ, Prada-Cañizares A, Marti-Ciruelos R, Pretell-Mazzini J (2015) Supracondylar humeral fractures in children: current concepts for management and prognosis. Int Orthop 39(11):2287–2296
Tsung JW, Blaivas M (2010) Rapid screening for the posterior fat pad sign in suspected pediatric elbow fractures using point-of-care ultrasound a “FAST exam” for the traumatized elbow. Crit Ultrasound J 1(3):111–116
Canavese F, Marengo L, Tiris A, Mansour M et al (2017) Radiological, clinical and functional evaluation using the quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand questionnaire of children with medial epicondyle fractures treated surgically. Int Orthop 41(7):1447–1452
Schulz-Drost S, Oppel P, Grupp S, Taylor D et al (2016) The oblique fracture of the manubrium sterni caused by a seatbelt—a rare injury? Treatment options based on the experiences gained in a level I trauma centre. Int Orthop 40(4):791–798
AlKhatib N, Younis MH, Hegazy A, Ibrahim T (2018) Early versus late treatment of paediatric femoral neck fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Orthop:p1–p9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-018-3998-4
Panigrahi R, Sahu B, Mahapatra AK, Palo N (2015) Treatment analysis of paediatric femoral neck fractures: a prospective multicenter theraupetic study in Indian scenario. Int Orthop 39(6):1121–1127
Drakonaki EE, Garbi A (2010) Metatarsal stress fracture diagnosed with high-resolution sonography. J Ultrasound Med 29(3):473–476
Marin JR, Zuckerbraun NS, Kahn JM (2012) Use of emergency ultrasound in United States pediatric emergency medicine fellowship programs in 2011. J Ultrasound Med (9):1357–1363
Joshi N, Lira A, Mehta N, Paladino L, Sinert R (2013) Diagnostic accuracy of history, physical examination, and bedside ultrasound for diagnosis of extremity fractures in the emergency department: a systematic review. Acad Emerg Med 20(1):1–5
Moed BR, Subramanian S, van Holsbeeck M, Watson JT (1998) Ultrasound for the early diagnosis of tibial fracture healing after static interlocked nailing without reaming: clinical results. J Orthop Trauma 1998 12(3):206–213
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics and Research Committee of the institution.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Akinmade, A., Ikem, I., Ayoola, O. et al. Comparing ultrasonography with plain radiography in the diagnosis of paediatric long-bone fractures. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 43, 1143–1153 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-018-4133-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-018-4133-2