V Perlepe1, P Omoumi2, A Larbi3, D Putineanu4, J-E Dubuc4, T Schubert4, B Vande Berg4. 1. Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: vasilikiperlepe@gmail.com. 2. University Hospital of Lausanne, Bugnon 46 CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. 3. Centre hospitalier régional universitaire de Nîmes, Nîmes, France. 4. Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, avenue Hippocrate 10, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine the frequency and causes for limitations in the radiographic evaluation of surgically treated long bone fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six readers separately scored 140 sets of antero-posterior (AP) and lateral radiographs of surgically treated long bone fractures, using a radiographic union score (RUS). We determined the rate of assessability of the fracture edges at each of the four cortical segments (n=560) seen tangentially on the two radiographs and the causes for non-assessability. The rate of feasibility of the RUS (more than two fracture edges assessable per fracture) was determined and compared according to different parameters. RESULTS: Fracture edges were visible in 71% to 81% of the 560 cortical segments. Metal hardware superimposition was the most frequent cause for non-assessability (79-95%). RUS values could be calculated in 58% to 75% of fractures. Scoring was statistically significantly less frequently calculable in plated (31-56%) than in nailed fractures (90-97%), in distal (47-61%) than in proximal (78-89%) bones and in upper (27-49%) than in lower (76-91%) limb bones (P≤0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The type of stabilization hardware is the main limiting factor in the radiographic assessment of surgically treated long bone fractures. Scoring was feasible in only 31% to 56% of plated fractures.
PURPOSE: To determine the frequency and causes for limitations in the radiographic evaluation of surgically treated long bone fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six readers separately scored 140 sets of antero-posterior (AP) and lateral radiographs of surgically treated long bone fractures, using a radiographic union score (RUS). We determined the rate of assessability of the fracture edges at each of the four cortical segments (n=560) seen tangentially on the two radiographs and the causes for non-assessability. The rate of feasibility of the RUS (more than two fracture edges assessable per fracture) was determined and compared according to different parameters. RESULTS:Fracture edges were visible in 71% to 81% of the 560 cortical segments. Metal hardware superimposition was the most frequent cause for non-assessability (79-95%). RUS values could be calculated in 58% to 75% of fractures. Scoring was statistically significantly less frequently calculable in plated (31-56%) than in nailed fractures (90-97%), in distal (47-61%) than in proximal (78-89%) bones and in upper (27-49%) than in lower (76-91%) limb bones (P≤0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The type of stabilization hardware is the main limiting factor in the radiographic assessment of surgically treated long bone fractures. Scoring was feasible in only 31% to 56% of plated fractures.
Authors: Alexandre Leme Godoy-Santos; Alessio Bernasconi; Marcelo Bordalo-Rodrigues; François Lintz; Carlos Felipe Teixeira Lôbo; Cesar de Cesar Netto Journal: Radiol Bras Date: 2021 May-Jun