Observational studyInternational orthopaedics2019
Comparing ultrasonography with plain radiography in the diagnosis of paediatric long-bone fractures.
Observational study in International orthopaedics, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound versus X-ray for distal forearm fractures in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2024Pooled it
- The Diagnostic Role of the Pronator Quadratus Sign in Paediatric Wrist Fractures: A Retrospective Study.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- [Usability of Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Fractures].Acta chirurgiae orthopaedicae et traumatologiae Cechoslovaca · 2026Article
- [Sonography of fractures in childhood-Practice-oriented case examples of frequent entities].Radiologie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2025Review
- [Sonography of fractures in childhood-Practice-oriented case examples of frequent entities].Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2025Review
- Clinical consequence of the 4-week X-ray control after ESIN osteosynthesis of forearm fractures in children.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2025Article
- Point-of-care ultrasound for the diagnosis of distal forearm fractures in children and adolescents: a scoping review.European journal of pediatrics · 2024Article
- Fracture sonography-review of literature and current recommendations.Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery · 2024Review
- Methods to accelerate fracture healing - a narrative review from a clinical perspective.Frontiers in immunology · 2024Review
- The progress in quantitative evaluation of callus during distraction osteogenesis.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2022Review
- Could Ultrasound Be Used as a Triage Tool in Diagnosing Fractures in Children? A Literature Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposePaediatric long-bone fractures are commonly seen in the emergency department, and diagnosis is usually confirmed by conventional radiographs. This entails exposure to ionizing radiation with its attendant possible carcinogenic and teratogenic effects. Ultrasonography provides a potentially safer diagnostic alternative and may be cheaper, more readily available, and user-friendly. This study aimed to establish the applicability of ultrasound scanning compared with plain radiography in fracture diagnosis.
methodsThis prospective observational study documented fracture characteristics using plain radiographs and compared these with findings on ultrasound assessment of same fractures at the time of injury. Scans were repeated at week three and week six to monitor treatment in those whom the mode of treatment did not preclude scanning. Outcome measures were compared for relationships including sensitivity and specificity as well as overall predictive values.
resultsThe age range of the 62 subjects enrolled was one to 15 years and the male to female ratio was 1.8:1. Plain radiographs diagnosed 52 fractures and 50 of these were recognized on ultrasound. The two false-negative ultrasound scans were noted in metaphyseal humeral fractures. Overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for ultrasonography were 96.2%, 100%, 100%, and 83.3% respectively. Ultrasound scans were also noted to identify callus formation significantly earlier than plain radiographs.
conclusionUltrasound shows potential as a tool in diagnosis of paediatric fractures but may be limited in fractures around metaphyseal bone. Due to the ability to detect callus formation much earlier, ultrasonography may be very useful in monitoring of fracture healing.
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