Sternal Fracture in Children: Diagnosis by Ultrasonography
#MMPMID28868230
Sesia SB
; Prüfer F
; Mayr J
European J Pediatr Surg Rep
2017[Jan]; 5
(1
): e39-e42
PMID28868230
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Because of its subcutaneous location, the sternum can be examined sonographically
using a linear scanner. We report about two children who experienced blunt chest
trauma. Anterior-posterior chest X-rays were normal. Ultrasonic imaging confirmed
a fracture of the sternum with dorsal displacement of the distal fragment (by
0.97 cm) in the first child and a transverse fracture of the body of the sternum
without displacement in the second child. In both children, pericardial effusion
was excluded by sonography. The displaced fracture of the sternum was confirmed
by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which ruled out concomitant injuries of the
soft tissues adjacent to the sternum. Both sternum fractures were managed
nonoperatively. These cases serve to emphasize the importance of sonography that
represents an ionizing radiation free, noninvasive, efficient, and safe imaging
modality to diagnose fractures of the sternum in children while also enabling the
assessment of the pericardium.
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