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Dislocation of Interphalangeal Joint of Thumb – Anteroposterior Xray

December 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

In contrast to other digits, thumb has only two phalanges. These are joined by interphalangeal joint.

Phalangeal dislocations are not very common.

The dislocation at this joint usually occurs due to a force causing hyperextension of the  joint.

The following xray is of a 22 years old man who sustained this injury after he struck his thumb inadvertantly with a moving object.interphalangeal-joint-dislocation-thumb

The dislocation was noted in the interphalangeal joint and was reduced closed.

The reduction was stable ans thumb has been immobilized in the plaster for two weeks.

Filed Under: Musculoskeletal Radiology, Orthopaedic Images Tagged With: , , ,

Understanding Metastasis

December 23, 2009 By 3 Comments

Metastasis in Greek means displacement.

The term is used to denote the spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part.

Malignant tumor cells and infections have the established capacity to metastasize. Until specified otherwise the term metastasis usually denotes malignant spread.

Why Does Metastasis occur?

Cancer cells can break away, leak, or spill from a primary tumor, enter lymphatic and blood vessels, circulate through the bloodstream, and be deposited within normal tissue elsewhere in the body.

Metastasis is one of three hallmarks of malignant tumors.

Different tumors have different capacity to metastasize.

When tumor cells metastasize, the new tumor is called a secondary or metastatic tumor. This is done to differentiate it from original source or primary tumor.

However, the cells of  new secondary tumor are similar to the primary tumor [Read more...]

Filed Under: Musculoskeletal Pathology, Musculoskeletal Tumours Tagged With:

Fracture of Tibial Plateau – Anteroposterior Xray

December 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Tibial plateau fractures are complex fracture involving articular surface of upper end tibia also called tibial plateau.fracture-tibial-plateau
Because they are articular fractures in a weight bearing joint, it is important to treat this fractures with anatomical restoration of the joint congruity. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Knee Injuries, Musculoskeletal Radiology, Orthopaedic Images Tagged With: , , ,

Undisplaced Oblique Fracture of Lower Tibia – Anteroposterior View Xray

December 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Oblique fractures are the fracture at an angle to transverse axis of the bone and extend into two planes. Oblique fractures are result of an indirect trauma.

Following xray is of 47 years old male who met with trauma when he was traveling on the bike. The xray reveals fractured tibia in an oblique fashion and comminution of fracture was visible.oblique-fracture-lower-tibia

The fracture has been successfully treated in above knee plaster cast.

Filed Under: Leg Injuries, Musculoskeletal Radiology, Orthopaedic Images Tagged With: , , , ,

Conditions That Could Be Mistaken As Scapular Fractures

December 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

There could be times when doubts arise in interpretation of history and xrays. Following entities may be considered in differentials of scapular fractures

Epiphyseal Lines
An ossification pattern of the scapula should be known to avoid this confusion. At birth, the body and spine of scapula form one ossified mass, with the coracoid, acromion, glenoid, and inferior angle all being cartilaginous.

At 3 to 18 months, a center of ossification,  appears at the mid-coracoid.

At 7 to 10 years, the coracoid base, including the upper third of the glenoid, appears.Sometimes called a subcoracoid bone and it joins the rest of the coracoid at 14 to 16 years. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Shoulder Girdle Injuries Tagged With: , , ,

What Is Chondrocalcinosis?

December 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Chondrocalcinosis is another name for Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate disease, a rheumatologic disorder with varied clinical manifestations due to precipitation of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals in the connective tissues.

Its alternative names specify clinical or radiographic findings.

Pseudogout refers to the clinically evident acute synovitis with red, tender, and swollen joints that may resemble arthritis of gout.chondrocalcinosis

Chondrocalcinosis, refers to the radiographic evidence of calcification in hyaline and/or fibrocartilage.
It is also called Pyrophosphate arthropathy. The knee joint is the most commonly affected.

Filed Under: Arthritis Tagged With: , , , , ,

List of Causes Of Back Pain

December 18, 2009 By 2 Comments

There are more than 400 conditions that can cause back pain. Instead of  providing comprehensive list, I have divided the conditions into different groups creating an overview.

Contrary to general belief, the bcak pain does not always originate from spine and vertebrae. Backpain may originate in visceral problems too.

Here are the major condtions that can cause backpain.

Mechanical Causes

Inflammatory Causes

Infection

Epidural abscess or vertebral osteomyelitis

Neoplastic Causes

  • Bone tumors (primary or metastatic)
  • Intradural spinal tumors

Metabolic Causes:

Referred pain:

  • Pelvic/abdominal disease
Filed Under: Back Pain Tagged With: ,

What Is Pars Interarticularis?

December 12, 2009 By 4 Comments

The Pars Interarticularis is a special region of the lamina between the superior and inferior articular processes.

pars interarticularisThe pars interarticularis,  pars for short, is the part of vertebra located between the inferior and superior articular processes of the facet joint.

This is weakest part of the lamina and a fracture or congenital anomaly of the pars may result in a Spondylolisthesis.

Filed Under: Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Spine Tagged With: , , ,

Xray of Fracture Lateral Condyle In Two Years Old Child

December 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Fracture of lateral condyle are very common fracture in children. lateral condyle is part of the humerus bone that projects on outer astect of lower part of arm just above the level of flexor crease of the elbow (cubital fossa).

fracture-lateral-condyle

Most of the undisplaced  fractures can be managed conservatively. The surgery is required in cases which have displacement of the fragment more than 2mm or the fragment is rotated.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Musculoskeletal Radiology, Orthopaedic Images, Pediatric Elbow Injuries, Pediatric Trauma Tagged With: , , ,

What Is Spondylosis?

December 10, 2009 By 1 Comment

Spondylosis refers to degenerative arthritis of the joints between the  vertebrae and/or neural foraminae. The interfacetal joints are not included in this term.

It is a common caus eo f back pain and if it is very severe can cause pressure on adjacent roots resulting in  sensory and/or motor problems, such as pain, paresthesia, or muscle weakness in the limbs.

When the space between two adjacent vertebrae narrows, compression of a nerve root emerging from the spinal cord may result in radiculopathy.  [Read more...]

Filed Under: Back Pain, Spine Tagged With: , , ,
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