Ultrasound diagnostics of a rare injury of the unossified pediatric skeleton – case report

Abstract

Plain X-ray remains a standard diagnostic tool for evaluation of skeletal injuries in children. However, it provides inadequate imaging of unossified, cartilaginous parts of pediatric bones. Our article presents the possibilities of ultrasound imaging based on the case report of a seven years old patient with a rare injury of the unossified medial epicondyle of the humerus where the diagnosis and indication for osteosynthesis has been made based on ultrasound examination of the injured elbow. Ultrasound imaging is an ideal, accessible and affordable examination not stressful for the patient; this technique can be used to verify of skeletal injuries that cannot be diagnosed by plain X-ray. Ultrasound imaging should be a standard part of the diagnostic algorithm of skeletal injuries in the pediatric population where a discrepancy is present between distinctive symptoms and negative radiographs.