MR imaging in tibial shaft fractures. A potential method for early visualization of delayed union.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between MR findings at the fracture site during the healing process and the outcome of patients with tibial shaft fracture.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Twelve consecutive patients with an uncomplicated tibial fracture treated conservatively were imaged by MR 1 to 3 days, 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the trauma. MR imaging consisted of sagittal/coronal T1-weighted, T2-weighted, proton density, short-tau inversion recovery, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted spin-echo images. The images were analysed for the extent of signal pathology in the bone marrow adjacent to the fracture, the extent of soft tissue oedema, and the intensity and homogeneity of the contrast enhancement of the callus.

RESULTS

The differences between normal (n=7) and delayed union (n=5) were observed within 3 to 6 weeks after the trauma, mainly in the homogeneity of the callus in T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced images.

CONCLUSION

MR imaging is a potentially valuable method for early visualization of delayed union in tibial shaft fractures.