Sonographic Evaluation of Fractures in Children

Abstract

Fractures and suspected fractures are common causes for pediatric visits to the emergency department. Initial evaluation routinely includes imaging in the form of radiographs. Additional imaging modalities including sonography and magnetic resonance are used as problem-solving tools. Sonography has been reported to perform well when compared with radiography in multiple anatomies from the skull and nasal bones to the upper and lower extremities. In addition, sonography presents unique advantages including lack of ionizing radiation, cross-sectional coverage, evaluation of soft tissue injury, and the possibility of imaging the contralateral side. This article reviews the applications, advantages, disadvantages, technique, and performance of sonography in the imaging of fractures in children.