What equipment is used to diagnose bone fractures?

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Filed under: fractures 

Other than X-Ray. I'm looking especifically at equipment used to diagnose compression fractures.

Exams and Tests :

Physical examination may show kyphosis. There is also tenderness over the injured vertebrae.

A spine x-ray shows at least one compressed vertebra that is shorter than the other vertebrae.

If there is no history of significant trauma, a bone density test needs to be done to evaluate for osteoporosis.

If there is concern that the fracture was caused by a tumor eating away at and weakening the bone, a CT or MRI scan is necessary to get a better look at the bone. Also, if the fracture was caused by high-energy trauma (fall from a height, car accident, etc.) then a CT scan is needed to see if there are bone fragments pressing on the spinal cord.

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2 Comments on What equipment is used to diagnose bone fractures?

  1. Alex on Wed, 26th Nov 2008 8:14 pm

    2. Exams and Tests :

    Physical examination may show kyphosis. There is also tenderness over the injured vertebrae.

    A spine x-ray shows at least one compressed vertebra that is shorter than the other vertebrae.

    If there is no history of significant trauma, a bone density test needs to be done to evaluate for osteoporosis.

    If there is concern that the fracture was caused by a tumor eating away at and weakening the bone, a CT or MRI scan is necessary to get a better look at the bone. Also, if the fracture was caused by high-energy trauma (fall from a height, car accident, etc.) then a CT scan is needed to see if there are bone fragments pressing on the spinal cord.
    References :
    http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000443.htm

  2. W W D on Wed, 26th Nov 2008 8:39 pm

    3. Fingers, mostly. You might be surprised to find that broken bones have a way of being tender. That includes even compression fractures of the thoracic spine, even though you can only palpate the spinous process. Plain films and perhaps CT would be next in line. You may be thinking of densitometry, but that's a half bubble off plumb.
    References :

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