1. Le Thanh Liem, Nguyen Thien Hung, Le van Tai, Lu Minh Tan, Le Tu Phuc, Phan Thanh Hai
MEDIC MEDICAL CENTER, HCMC, Vietnam
2. To disclose chondral or bony rib fracture by
ultrasound which are negative on X-ray film
of minor blunt chest trauma patients.
3. A total of 42 patients suffering from minor blunt
chest trauma without evidence of a rib fracture on
chest X-ray film, were examined with a 9L4 MHz or
7.5 MHz linear transducer of ultrasound system
(Siemens, Aloka).
Statistical analysis was done to outline the
ultrasound findings of these rib fractures.
4. 42 patients (100.0%) showed chondral and bony rib lesions, but no
evidence of rib lesions on X-ray film.
Fracture of the rib = disruption of continuity of bony cortex near
chrondral and bony rib junction was the most common finding in 37
(88.0%) patients.
Chondral rib fractures were in five (11.9%) patients.
Chondral rib fracture = disruption of cortex, small echogenic lines in
chondral rib,
Bruised chondral rib = a small deformation of chondral cortex and
echogenic area at trauma site [painful site].
Bony rib fractures significantly occurred in trauma patients, and the
duration of pain in patients with chondral rib fractures was significantly
longer than that of patients with bony rib fractures.
12. Ultrasonography is a useful imaging method in
disclosing the rib fractures (chondral and bony rib
fractures) which were negative on chest X-ray film
in minor blunt chest trauma.
However, chondral rib fractures significantly occur
less than bony rib fractures and result in a longer
duration of pain.
