Sonographic management of infantile clavicular fractures.

A new method for radiation-free management of infantile clavicular fractures is presented. Forty-nine infants with clavicular fractures were examined radiologically and sonographically by independent examiners. The two imaging techniques were compared with regard to practicability, diagnostic results, and assessment of the healing process. The paired t-test showed no significant difference between X-ray and ultrasound (US) for the criteria of practicability and primary diagnostic results. With regard to assessment of the healing process, a highly significant advantage in favor of US was registered. One week before radiographs revealed any sign of bone healing, stress-resistant, stable healing of tissue is seen on US. Even consolidation disorders such as early signs of pseudarthrosis are detected very early by US. This enormous diagnostic advantage reduces the duration of immobilization, the frequency and number of follow-up examinations, and last but not least, provides a cost-effective method of treatment without exposure to ionizing radiation.