title: Can burst fractures be predicted from plain radiographs?
abstract: Plain radiographs of 67 acute spinal compression fractures in 49 patients were analysed by subjective and objective criteria, using CT scans as the diagnostic standard for the diagnosis of burst fracture. Discriminant analysis correctly predicted the type of fracture in 88% of cases. Burst fractures, however, were almost as frequently misdiagnosed as being wedge compression fractures using this technique, compared with the reading of 25 films from patients without previous information. A quarter of the injuries would have been misdiagnosed had reliance been placed solely on the plain radiographs. CT scans of all patients with acute spinal compression fractures should be considered to decrease this potentially serious diagnostic error.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of California, San Diego Medical Center 92103.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Ballock
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mackersie
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Abitbol
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cervilla
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Resnick
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Garfin
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed