Fracture Dating



10.1055/b-0034-87948

Fracture Dating


Estimation of fracture age should be approached with caution. The current timeline for estimating fracture age ( Table 5.97 ) is based on anecdotal experience of seasoned pediatric radiologists and several small series of children. Although fracture dating is not an inexact science, experienced radiologists should be able to differentiate recent from old fractures separated by weeks or months in time.
















































Table 5.97 Fracture dating on conventional radiographs

Feature


Early


Peak


Delayed


Resolution of soft tissues


2–5 d


4–10 d


10–21 d


Subperiosteal new bone formation


4–10 d


10–14 d


14–21 d


Loss of fracture line definition


10–14 d


14–21 d



Soft callus


10–14 d


14–21 d



Hard callus


14–21 d


21–42 d


42–90 d


Remodeling


3 mo


1 y


2 y to physeal closure


Table 5.97 reproduced with permission from Kleinman PK. Diagnostic imaging of child abuse. 2nd ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 1989.

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Jul 12, 2020 | Posted by in PEDIATRIC IMAGING | Comments Off on Fracture Dating

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