title: Significance of intraarticular fluid without visible fracture in children.
abstract: The radiographs and clinical records of 128 patients with joint trauma and radiographic evidence of intraarticular fluid but no visible fracture were reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: 63 with follow-up films and 65 with no follow-up films. Clinically, the latter group had less serious injuries and generally were instructed not to return unless symptoms worsened abruptly or if pain persisted for longer than 1 week. The group with follow-up films consisted of those patients with more serious injuries, and mandatory repeat radiographs were obtained 10-14 days after initial injury. Findings suggest that if a fracture was not seen on the first study, chances of its being present and missed in the ankle and elbow were small (7% and 15%) but were high (67%) in the wrist.
mesh_terms: D016512:Ankle Injuries; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001826:Body Fluids; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000092464:Elbow Injuries