Method

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the local ethics committee. Children between the age of 2 and 14 years with a suspected isolated, undisplaced, non-articular forearm fracture were asked to participate. Children were excluded if there was any clinical evidence of deformity. Each child was assessed by the emergency department staff grade, specialist registrar or associate specialist to determine whether a radiograph was indicated. As there is no validated system of determining the need for further investigation, patients were included on the basis of the attending physician's clinical suspicion. Factors that were considered included the mechanism of injury, the presence of pain, or swelling, or bony tenderness, or all three, related to either the radius or ulna. Clinical findings were recorded on a formal results sheet. Consent was obtained from the attending parent/guardian and patient if appropriate. All subjects attended the emergency department at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol over a 12 month period from July 1997.

Using an ATL 2000 machine (ATL Ultrasound, Bothell, USA) with a 10 MHz linear array probe and a musculoskeletal (hand/wrist) protocol, ultrasound of the injured forearm was performed by one of two consultant radiologists and the results recorded. All scans were performed in the General X-ray Department at Frenchay Hospital before any radiographic investigation. During the procedure each patient was specifically asked whether they were experiencing any additional pain or discomfort and their response recorded.

Standard two view radiographs of the forearm were then taken. Hard copies of both ultrasound and radiographic images were made and the results of the radiograph recorded. The radiographs were formally reported on at a later date as per departmental policy. This report was then compared with the initial ultrasound findings.

Each child was treated in the most appropriate way according to their injury, as determined by their clinical and radiogaphic findings. There was no specific patient follow up required for trial purposes.

Results

Twenty six children were included (10 girls and 16 boys) between the ages of 2 to 13 years (mean 8 years). Sixteen fractures were detected with ultrasound, all were confirmed at radiography (fig 1 and fig 2). All children who had normal ultrasound findings also had normal radiographs despite symptoms and clinical findings that were suspicious of a fracture. No bony abnormalities were detected by ultrasound that were not seen on the radiographs.

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Figure 1

An ultrasound image of a greenstick fracture of the distal radius (arrow).

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Figure 2

A radiographic image of the same injury as figure 1.

In this series the sensitivity and specificity for ultrasound detection of fractures was 100%.

There were no reports of discomfort using the 10 MHz imaging probes in this series.

The documented clinical findings indicating the requirement for further imaging was consistent for all patients.

Discussion

These results are based on a relatively small number of patients. However, they do suggest that ultrasound is as good as radiography in the detection of isolated, uncomplicated forearm fractures in children.

Previous trials using ultrasound to detect fractures have used therapeutic rather than imaging frequencies, that is 1 MHz rather than 3.5 MHz or greater. Therapeutic wavelengths often, but not consistently, elicit pain at the fracture site.^4–6 There were no reports of pain or discomfort while using the 10 MHz probe over the fracture site.

As a result of careful patient selection and clinical examination, there were no children with significant angulation or displacement about a fracture, as subsequently detected by radiography. No child required a manipulation. In fact, it is the investigators' perception that the degree of cortical deformation is more obvious with ultrasound than with radiography.

With increased awareness over the dangers of radiation, even at small doses, alternatives to radiography should be sought. The use of ultrasound imaging in all aspects of diagnostic medicine is rising. It is thought to be safe, reliable, and is being increasingly used in emergency medicine.¹² High quality ultrasound imaging equipment is usually mobile, is becoming easier to use and produces very clear images. In this study fracture recognition using ultrasound proved to be very simple. With minimal training emergency clinicians should be able to perform the procedure themselves.

As a viable alternative to radiography, it may be feasible to move the diagnosis of simple bony injuries into the emergency department. This would not only reduce the use of ionising radiation, but also waiting times for children. It would make it unnecessary for them to leave the department for radiography, limit the number of people having to attend the child, and reduce the workload of radiology staff. A correct diagnosis could be made, management plans formulated and the child and parents advised accordingly, while the child remains in one designated room. Overall times in the hospital could be shortened and potential stress factors eliminated, all without irradiating the child.

From an orthopaedic point of view, the use of ultrasound imaging should not effect the subsequent management of a greenstick fracture. In this series, probably because of careful patient selection, there was no child with a significant degree of angulation about the fracture site (that is >5° as detected by radiography). In each case the fracture was clearly demonstrated by ultrasound. Indeed the clarity of the image is such that the authors believe that any clinically unsuspected angulation would easily be seen and therefore measured using this technique. Obviously this would need to be validated by further studies.

Recruitment into this trial was hampered by limited availability of resources. A more substantial trial with consecutive recruitment using dedicated equipment and staff would obviously improve the significance of the results. Data collection on such a trial is ongoing, with an emergency physician, having received approximately one hour training, performing all scans.

This pilot shows that using ultrasound imaging for the initial diagnosis of simple long bone fractures seems to be a viable alternative to radiography that warrants further investigation.