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Ultrasound (US) can detect small cortical bone interruptions and has shown promise for detection of fractures. However, US might be limited for evaluation of short bones and the ends of bones because of irregular bony contours and the presence of growth plates. Nevertheless, researchers in Italy compared the accuracy of US to that of plain radiography (the gold standard) in 204 children (age range, 2–17 years) presenting to an emergency department with possible hand fractures.
Phalangeal or metacarpal fractures were detected by radiography in 79 patients (39%). Radiologists blinded to radiography results evaluated all patients' symptomatic hands with US (using a water bath technique to maximize visualization). Compared with radiography, US d…