Irshad F, Shaw N J, Gregory R J
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dryburn Hospital, Durham, UK.
Injury. 1997 Sep;28(7):433-5. doi: 10.1016/s0020-1383(97)00045-4.
In a prospective study at a single centre between August 1995 and March 1996, 193 patients with elbow injuries were studied. Standard radiographs of the elbows were taken. A total of 181 X-rays were reported by one person concerning the presence or absence of fractures and fat-pad signs. The radiographs were analysed and positive predictive values were calculated for the presence of the fat-pad sign with radial head/neck fractures. The sensitivity for radial head/neck fracture is 85.4 per cent, while the specificity is only 50 per cent. The fat-pad sign must be used cautiously as an indicator of radial head/neck fractures; its absence is a more reliable indicator of the absence of a radial head/ neck fracture.
