Authors: Leonard E Swischuk Siddharth P Jadhav
Publish Date: 2013/11/30
Volume: 21, Issue: 2, Pages: 173-177
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the various imaging modalities used to diagnose tibial stress–fractures/phenomena and determine which of these are most useful and definitive The plain film computed tomography CT magnetic resonance MR and nuclear medicine findings in a 20patient cohort ranging from ages 10 to 21 years with an average of 16 years were reviewed The male to female ratio was recorded as was the incidence of right or left or bilateral extremity involvement Thereafter each imaging modality was evaluated for positive findings Twelve of the patients had pretibial swelling on plain films 10 a thickened cortex to a visible fracture on plain films and 13 had increased shorttau inversion recovery STIR signal in the post tibial marrow and pretibial subperiosteum areas on MR imaging No CT studies were performed One positive nuclear medicine study was available Although there are a number of imaging modalities which can be used to evaluate the tibial stress/fracture phenomena problem it would appear that plain films and MR studies are most useful If plain films do not show a fracture and further information is required an MR study is most appropriate
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