The Bristol hip view: its role in the diagnosis and surgical planning and occult fracture diagnosis for proximal femoral fractures.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether a modified radiographic view of the femoral neck improves the diagnosis of occult proximal femoral.


METHODS
Prospective study of patients presenting with clinically suspected proximal femoral fractures or who underwent traditional plain radiographic views and the Bristol hip view (a 30-degree angled projection). Six blinded independent observers assessed the images for presence of a fracture, anatomical level, and displacement.


RESULTS
166 consecutive patients presenting with the clinical diagnosis of a proximal femoral fracture, of which 61 sustained a fracture. Six of these were deemed occult due to negative plain and had proven fractures on subsequent cross-sectional imaging. The Bristol hip view demonstrated five of these six fractures. It performed better than the traditional lateral hip view to identify the injury. The Bristol hip view predicted correctly the fracture type and displacement in all cases and missed only one of the occult fractures.


CONCLUSIONS
The Bristol hip view is more sensitive and clearer than a lateral projection for patients. It adds useful diagnostic information and performs better than the traditional views in occult fractures. Its use may prevent the need for further cross sectional imaging and subsequent surgical delay.
Departments of Radiology, Frenchay Hospital North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK.
J
J
Harding
T J S
TJ
Chesser
M
M
Bradley
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000379:methods*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult