Radiology: Imaging Trauma Patients in a Deployed Setting.

Medical imaging plays a critical role in the rapid diagnosis, effective triage, and management of complex poly-trauma patients. High-quality medical imaging can be accomplished successfully in a deployed or wartime setting. Due to advances in aggressive resuscitation techniques and the speed of the latest generation computed tomography scanners (64-detector and beyond), rapid trauma scans utilizing computed tomography and ultrasound imaging can routinely be performed prior to taking the patient to the operating room potentially providing the trauma team with lifesaving information. This clinical practice guideline provides an overview of the imaging modalities available in austere settings, the equipment required, and the role that each plays in triaging and diagnosis of the acutely injured poly-trauma patients.

Rapid Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Femoral Neck Stress Fractures in a U.S. Active Duty Military Population.

OBJECTIVES: Timely diagnosis of femoral neck stress fractures is important to prevent fracture completion and displacement. We hypothesize that an abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hip examination can diagnose femoral neck stress fractures and that femoral neck stress fractures are common in U.S. military recruits. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed abbreviated hip MRI examinations performed on active duty patients from November 1, 2013, to August 5, 2014. Patients were referred by primary care providers on the basis of high clinical suspicion. Study variables included presence and grade of femoral neck stress fractures. RESULTS: 229 patients were evaluated with an abbreviated hip MRI. 43 patients (18.8%) were diagnosed with femoral neck stress fractures and 12 patients (5.2%) had bilateral femoral neck stress fractures. All femoral neck stress fractures were on the compressive side. Grading of stress fractures was as follows: 0 Grade I (0%), 8 Grade II (14.5%), 32 Grade III (58.2%), and 15 Grade IV (27.2%). CONCLUSIONS: An abbreviated MR hip examination can diagnose femoral neck stress fractures as well as additional pathologies that explain the patient's symptoms. Femoral neck stress fractures are common in U.S. military personnel.

Subtrochanteric femur fractures: review of the complete pathologic spectrum with emphasis on distinguishing imaging features.

Subtrochanteric femur fractures result from a variety of mechanisms of injury and underlying pathologies. Radiologists can play a pivotal role by differentiating the etiology of a subtrochanteric femur fracture, which assists the orthopedic surgeon in choosing the correct method of treatment. To provide this valuable service, one must be familiar with the characteristic radiologic features of the numerous causative etiologies, ranging from Paget disease to underlying bone lesions to iatrogenic fractures.

Sonography of musculoskeletal soft-tissue masses: techniques, pearls, and pitfalls.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to review the appropriate use of ultrasound in the workup of soft-tissue masses of the extremities. The normal sonographic appearance of superficial soft tissues, the importance of proper technique in image acquisition, and the characteristic sonographic appearance of certain masses and potential pitfalls are discussed. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound is increasingly being used for the initial evaluation of soft-tissue masses of the extremities. Certain clinical and imaging findings allow diagnosis of selected soft-tissue masses; however, most imaging findings are nonspecific, and further evaluation is necessary. The many potential pitfalls can lead to adverse patient outcomes.

Novel Pseudomonas fluorescens septic sacroiliitis in a healthy soldier.

Septic sacroiliitis is an uncommon infection of immunocompetent patients, typically caused by gram-positive bacteria, with fewer gram-negative cases, and only 5% attributed to Pseudomonas species. We present a healthy soldier with the first reported case of Pseudomonas fluorescens septic sacroiliitis and discuss unique diagnostic and management issues. Because of its rare incidence and nonspecific presentation, septic sacroiliitis is often unrecognized, and its diagnosis is often delayed. Increased awareness of septic sacroiliitis as a potential disease process in the differential diagnosis of troops presenting with a combination of fever, low-back pain, and weight-bearing difficulty is important. As the young age and trauma exposure of the military population represent a prime demographic for this often unrecognized infection, delayed diagnosis can negatively impact a soldier's military readiness. P. fluorescens is itself a rare pathogen and often misidentified in the laboratory. Enhanced microbiological diagnostic techniques beyond routine culture and susceptibility testing should also be considered to account for less commonly seen pathogens. Although optimal antimicrobial treatment duration for infectious sacroiliitis is not well established, this case shows the early efficacy of oral antibiotics.

Greater trochanteric fracture with occult intertrochanteric extension.

Proximal femoral fractures are frequently encountered in the emergency department (ED). Prompt diagnosis is paramount as delay will exacerbate the already poor outcomes associated with these injuries. In cases where radiography is negative but clinical suspicion remains high, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the study of choice as it has the capability to depict fractures which are occult on other imaging modalities. Awareness of a particular subset of proximal femoral fractures, namely greater trochanteric fractures, is vital for both radiologists and clinicians since it has been well documented that they invariably have an intertrochanteric component which may require surgical management. The detection of intertrochanteric or cervical extension of greater trochanteric fractures has been described utilizing MRI but is underestimated with both computed tomography (CT) and bone scan. Therefore, if MRI is unavailable or contraindicated, the diagnosis of an isolated greater trochanteric fracture should be met with caution. The importance of avoiding this potential pitfall is demonstrated in the following case of an elderly woman with hip pain and CT demonstrating an isolated greater trochanteric fracture who subsequently returned to the ED with a displaced intertrochanteric fracture.

Costovertebral fracture dislocations: important radiographically difficult diagnosis.

The authors' aim is to report the appearance of fracture dislocations of the costovertebral joint. We will review the pertinent anatomy of the costovertebral articulation, summarize the current literature, report our experience and the imaging appearance of costovertebral joint fracture dislocations, and discuss important concepts of the costovertebral joint, as it relates to thoracic spine fractures.

MRI evaluation of anterior knee pain: predicting response to nonoperative treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Tibial tubercle lateral deviation and patellofemoral chondromalacia are associated with anterior knee pain (AKP). We hypothesized that increased tibial tubercle lateral deviation and patellofemoral chondromalacia on magnetic resonance imaging correlates with the presence of AKP and with failure of nonoperative management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective comparative study, a blinded musculoskeletal radiologist measured tibial tubercle lateral deviation relative to the trochlear groove in 15 controls, 15 physical therapy responders with AKP, and 15 physical therapy nonresponders with AKP. Patellar and trochlear cartilage was assessed for signal abnormality, irregularity, and defects. RESULTS: The mean tibial tubercle lateral deviation in controls, physical therapy responders, and physical therapy nonresponders were 9.32 +/- 0.68, 13.01 +/- 0.82, and 16.07 +/- 1.16 mm, respectively (data are mean +/- standard deviation). The correlation coefficients for tubercle deviation, chondromalacia patellae, and trochlear chondromalacia were 0.51 (P < 0.01), 0.44 (P < 0.01), and 0.28 (P < 0.05), respectively. On analysis of variance, tubercle deviation and chondromalacia patellae contributed significantly to prediction of AKP and response to physical therapy. The presence of chondromalacia patellae and a tubercle deviation greater than 14.6 mm is 100% specific and 67% sensitive with a positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 75% for failure of nonoperative management. CONCLUSION: Subjects with AKP have more laterally positioned tibial tubercles and are more likely to have patellar chondromalacia. Patients with AKP, chondromalacia patellae, and a tubercle deviation greater than 14.6 mm are unlikely to respond to nonoperative treatment. Knowledge of tibial tubercle lateralization and presence of chondromalacia patellae may assist clinicians in determining patient prognosis and selecting treatment options.

Magnetic resonance appearance of intra-articular synovial sarcoma: case reports and review of the literature.

Intra-articular synovial sarcoma is extremely rare. The authors report the magnetic resonance appearance of 2 cases of intra-articular synovial sarcoma and review the current medical literature on this subject. Intra-articular synovial sarcoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of a heterogeneously enhancing multiloculated intra-articular mass, especially in the knee joint, that does not have the typical radiological features of either synovial osteochondromatosis, pigmented villonodular synovitis, or synovial hemangiomas.

MRI of quadratus femoris muscle tear: another cause of hip pain.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to report the MR appearance of quadratus femoris muscle tear, another cause of hip pain. We will review the pertinent anatomy of the quadratus femoris muscle, summarize the current literature on quadratus femoris muscle tear, and report our experience in the diagnosis of quadratus femoris muscle tear on MRI. CONCLUSION: MRI is an important tool in assisting clinicians to make a correct diagnosis for the patient who presents with hip pain. Although quadratus femoris muscle tear is an uncommon injury, radiologists should be aware of this entity to assist with making a diagnosis that is usually unsuspected clinically.