title: Floating fat in the wrist joint and in the tendon sheaths.
abstract: A traumatic fat effusion in a tendon sheath is an unreported entity. We report on the clinical and imaging features, including radiography and computed tomography (CT), of a fat-density effusion in the wrist joint and tendon sheaths of the extensor pollicis longus, extensor carpi radialis longus, and extensor carpi radialis brevis in a 28-year-old patient after a roller-skating accident. Radiographs showed a fracture of the distal radius and a wrist joint effusion. Preoperative CT examination exhibited two distinct layers resulting in a fat-fluid level pathognomonic of lipohemarthrosis in the radiocarpal joint. In addition, a fat-density effusion was noted in the sheaths of the second and third compartment extensor tendons. The lipohemarthrosis depicted on imaging classically results from the extrusion of fat from bone marrow into the joint space after an intraarticular fracture. Similarly, a traumatic fat effusion in a tendon sheath presents characteristic imaging features that may help to diagnose a potentially overlooked fracture.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, Marseille, France. Thomas.LeCorroller@ap-hm.fr
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Le Corroller
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parratte
authors.forename: Jean-Vincent
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Zink
authors.forename: Jean-Noël
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Argenson
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Champsaur
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000473:pathology*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000473:pathology*