title: Occult fractures of tibial plateau detected employing magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: We describe two cases of spontaneous fracture at the tibial metaphysis not diagnosed by standard X-ray. In both cases, only magnetic resonance imaging supplied a precise diagnosis and allowed us to follow the evolution of the pathology. Scintigraphy is equally sensitive but unspecific. Osteoporosis was noted in all cases. Hypothetically, similar pathological situations could be present without being diagnosed since they are not always detected by standard X-rays.
authors.affiliation: 5th Orthopaedic Department, University of Milan Medical School, San Donato Hospital, Italy. cabitza@imiucca.csi.unimi.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cabitza
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy