title: Ultrasound diagnosis of bony nerve entrapment: case series and literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nerve entrapment due to osseous callus formation is a rare complication after bone fracture. Electrodiagnostic studies and routine radiographic imaging often fail to demonstrate the pathology. The diagnosis is difficult and is often made incidentally upon surgical exploration. Nerve ultrasonography has not been used routinely to assess such lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report 5 cases of nerve entrapment in osseous callus after fractures that occurred in 2011 and 2012. The diagnosis was made by ultrasound (US). We then performed a review of the relevant literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US is becoming an invaluable tool for diagnosing peripheral nerve entrapments. The current cases suggest that nerve US should be strongly considered as an adjunctive diagnostic tool for nerve palsies developing after trauma.
authors.affiliation: Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, Piazzale Morandi 6, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erra
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liotta
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Podnar
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Hani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kushlaf
authors.forename: Lisa D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Hobson-Webb
authors.forename: Fraser J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Leversedge
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinoli
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Padua
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
keywords: bony nerve entrapment; bony tunnel; delayed nerve palsy; nerve ultrasound; osseous callus