Sonographic assessment of osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of sonography for revealing osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients with capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (27 males; range, 11-20 years; mean age, 14 years) underwent radiography and sonography performed with a 7.5-MHz mechanical sector probe. Lesions were assessed as stable or unstable. The sonographic assessment was compared with radiographic assessment in 27 patients, MR assessment obtained in 10, and surgical findings in 15.


RESULTS
Sonographic assessment agreed with radiographic assessment in 23 of the 27 patients, MR assessment in nine of the 10, and surgical findings in 14 of the 15. Sonography revealed that two lesions, which had been underestimated on radiography, were unstable.


CONCLUSIONS
Sonography facilitates the assessment of capitellar lesions so that treatment can be optimized.
Takahara
M
M
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Yamagata City, Japan.
Ogino
T
T
Tsuchida
H
H
Takagi
M
M
Kashiwa
H
H
Nambu
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D010008:Osteochondritis Dissecans / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography