Biglia Alessandro, Morandi Valentina, Maggiore Francesco, Castello Luigi Mario, Donati Danilo, Tedeschi Roberto, Langone Laura, Vita Fabio, Bonacchi Giovanni, Stella Salvatore Massimo, Ciampi Barbara, Galletti Stefano, Becciolini Marco
SC of Internal Medicine, Universitary Hospital "SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo", Alessandria, Italy.
Traslational Internal Medicine Department, University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), Novara, Italy.
J Ultrasound. 2025 May 23. doi: 10.1007/s40477-025-01009-8.
To propose the usefulness of ultrasound (US) examination in diagnosing isolated lumbar transverse process fractures (ILTPF) in minor trauma as a first-line imaging and decision-making process.
We report six cases of patients, who suffered from vertebral fractures after blunt trauma or sports injuries and were diagnosed with ILTPF. Data were collected from personal records and images were obtained by different doctors using the US. The results were confirmed by X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging.
In two cases, US-examination was able to detect ITPF after a conventional X-ray was apparently normal. In the other four cases, US-examination allowed to discover of the fractures and subsequently, they were confirmed by MRI or X-ray.
Our cases demonstrated the usefulness of the ultrasound technique, as a first-line imaging, for spine trauma in diagnosing ITPF, in the context of minor trauma. In two cases ultrasound showed superiority to X-ray in finding the fractures.
提出超声（US）检查在诊断轻微创伤性孤立性腰椎横突骨折（ILTPF）中作为一线成像和决策过程的有用性。
我们报告了6例因钝性创伤或运动损伤导致椎体骨折并被诊断为ILTPF的患者。数据从个人记录中收集，图像由不同医生使用超声获取。结果通过X射线或磁共振成像得到证实。
在2例病例中，常规X射线检查明显正常，但超声检查能够检测到ILTPF。在其他4例病例中，超声检查发现了骨折，随后经MRI或X射线证实。
我们的病例证明了超声技术作为一线成像手段，在轻微创伤情况下对脊柱创伤诊断ILTPF的有用性。在2例病例中，超声在发现骨折方面显示出优于X射线的优势。
