Abstract: Background: Lower extremity fracture is a disabling injury which requires accurate and detailed characterization for optimal management. Conventional radiographic evaluation is hampered by under estimation of extent and severity of fracture injury. In contrast, MDCT is much more accurate tool for evaluation of these injuries involving anatomically complex locations. Our study examines the role of MDCT in analyzing the fracture injuries of lower extremity joints.
Materials and Methods: It is a prospective cross-sectional observational study conducted after obtaining institutional ethics committee approval. A total of 123 patients of fracture injuries involving lower extremity joints were included in study. MDCT was performed in all patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Detailed evaluation of fracture injuries was done on advanced CT workstation and institutional PACS system. Multiplanar reconstructions (MPR) and Volume rendering was done in each case for detailed evaluation.
Results: The mean age of the study participants was 44.7 yrs ± 18.0 with Male: Female ratio of 2.44:1. Road side accident (RSA) was commonest mode of injury (60.2%) followed by fall from height (34.1%) & assault (5.6%). When the mode of injury was RSA, the commonest fracture in hip was posterior column (43%); in knee- Schatzker type VI (30%); in ankle – Talar fracture (44.4%) while in fall from height, intertrochanteric fracture occurred most frequently in hip (19.6%), Schatzker type II in knee (24%) and calcaneal fracture in ankle (44.4%).
Conclusion: MDCT is important diagnostic tool in evaluation of fracture injuries of lower extremity joints and MPR along with Volume Rendered 3D models are extremely helpful for better spatial characterization of these injuries. In these injuries the site of fracture and injury patterns observed in a particular joint show marked variance depending on the underlying mechanism and mode of injury.
