Imaging of skeletal extremity trauma: A review

Abstract

Successful treatment of trauma to the skeletal system begins with accurate diagnosis, which entails the need for a thorough clinical assessment in addition to a well-performed and correctly interpreted radiographic examination. The physician dealing with skeletal trauma should be aware that certain activities (falls, sports, etc.) lead to particular types of limb injury as well as the fact that specific bony injuries can be associated with underlying visceral damage and/or other remote skeletal injuries (e.g. lumbar fractures with calcaneal trauma). Extremity trauma is a vast subject to tackle and this article is but a short synopsis of imaging in skeletal limb injuries in adults for those involved in the care and management of victims of trauma. It is not intended to be an exhaustive atlas of fractures. We have deliberately not discussed management of particular skeletal injuries or complications of fracture repair as this obviously necessitates a surgical rather than purely radiological judgement and is beyond the scope of this current review article.