The Place of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Rib Fractures

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether ultrasonography is superior to chest x-ray in detecting rib fractures in patients\udwith minor blunt chest trauma and chest pain.\udMaterials and Methods: Ultrasonography findings of 32 patients with minor blunt chest trauma showing no evidence of a rib fracture on\udanteroposterior chest x-rays, were documented. Presence of cortical discontinuities, acoustic shadows, reverberation artifacts, and hematoma\udby ultrasonography was proposed as the diagnostic criteria for detecting the rib fracture.\udResults: Rib fracture was detected in 20 patients (62.5%) according to ultrasonography results. A mildly displaced fracture was detected\udin 7 patients (35%), hematoma was detected in 3 patients (15%) and multiple fractures (in 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th ribs) were detected in 1\udpatient (5%).\udConclusion: The results of our study showed that ultrasonography is superior to chest x-ray, in detecting rib fractures