Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Acute Plastic Deformation of a Pediatric Radius

Abstract

Acute plastic deformation of long bones is more common in young children. We report a case of an acute plastic deformation of a pediatric radius via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation. A 15-year-old boy fell on landing after a jump while practicing soccer, which injured his right forearm. He was diagnosed with a radial neck fracture and a medial epicondylar fracture of the humerus on the basis of plain radiograms. MRI was additionally performed and showed abnormal shadows indicating intramedullary bleeding at multiple bamboo-joint-like deformity sites of the radius. Surgery was performed and injury completely healed. Acute plastic deformation of long bones was often diagnosed by simple radiographic imaging. To our knowledge, there has been no previous reports of plastic deformation evaluated by MRI. If bone plastic deformation is missed, functional impairments such as limited range of motion remain; thus, an early diagnosis of acute bone plastic deformation by performing MRI is recommended.