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CC BY 4.0 · European J Pediatr Surg Rep. 2017; 05(01): e39-e42
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1606197
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Sternal Fracture in Children: Diagnosis by Ultrasonography

Sergio B. Sesia
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children's Hospital of Basel (UKBB), Basel, Switzerland
,
Friederike Prüfer
2   Department of Pediatric Radiology, University Children's Hospital of Basel (UKBB), Basel, Switzerland
,
Johannes Mayr
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children's Hospital of Basel (UKBB), Basel, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

22 May 2017

16 July 2017

Publication Date:
31 August 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Because of its subcutaneous location, the sternum can be examined sonographically using a linear scanner. We report about two children who experienced blunt chest trauma. Anterior–posterior chest X-rays were normal. Ultrasonic imaging confirmed a fracture of the sternum with dorsal displacement of the distal fragment (by 0.97 cm) in the first child and a transverse fracture of the body of the sternum without displacement in the second child. In both children, pericardial effusion was excluded by sonography. The displaced fracture of the sternum was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which ruled out concomitant injuries of the soft tissues adjacent to the sternum. Both sternum fractures were managed nonoperatively. These cases serve to emphasize the importance of sonography that represents an ionizing radiation free, noninvasive, efficient, and safe imaging modality to diagnose fractures of the sternum in children while also enabling the assessment of the pericardium.

Keywords

ultrasonography - children - sternum fracture - ultrasound
 

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