Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Transient fatty cortical defects following fractures in children

  • Articles
  • Published:
Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Self-regressing subperiosteal defects appearing during consolidation of fractures were observed in two children aged 6 and 10 years, in the tibia and the radius respectively. These transient defects appeared several weeks after fracture, at a distance from the fracture site. They involved the newly formed subperiosteal bone, did not enlarge, and were replaced progressively by normal-appearing bone. A computed tomography (CT) study performed on one of these defects demonstrated a density consistent with a fatty content. It is suggested that these transient post-traumatic defects could result from the inclusion of medullary fat drops within the subperiosteal hematoma near the fracture site.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aalami-Harandi B (1978) Acute osteomyelitis following a closed fracture. Injury 9:207

    Google Scholar 

  2. Caffey J (1978) Pediatric X-ray diagnosis, 7th edn. Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago London, p 1334

    Google Scholar 

  3. Canale St, Puhl J, Watson FM, Gillespie R (1975) Acute osteomyelitis following closed fractures. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 57:415

    Google Scholar 

  4. Dabezies EJ, D'Ambrosia RD, Chuinard RG, Ferguson AB (1982) Aneurysmal bone cyst after fracture. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 64:617

    Google Scholar 

  5. Dashefsky JH (1971) Post-traumatic subarticular cyst of bone. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 53:154

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ebong WW (1980) Acute osteomyelitis three years after a closed fracture in an adult with sickle-cell anemia. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 62:1196

    Google Scholar 

  7. Feinberg SE, Finkelstein MW, Langley Page H, Dembo JB (1984) Recurrent “traumatic” bone cysts of the mandible. Oral Surg 57:418

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ginsburg LD (1974) Congenital aneurysmal bone cyst. Radiology 110:175

    Google Scholar 

  9. Goergen TG, Resnick D, Riley RR (1978) Post-traumatic abnormalities of the pubic bone simulating malignancy. Radiology 126:85

    Google Scholar 

  10. Halaby FA, Di Salvo EI (1965) Ostcolysis: a complication of trauma. AJR 94:591

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hall FM, Goldberg RP, Kasdon EJ, Glick H (1984) Posttraumatic osteolysis of the pubic bone simulating a malignant lesion. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 66:121

    Google Scholar 

  12. Johnson PH (1984) Post-traumatic cyst of the tibia. J Arkansas Med Soc 80:580

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kenan S, Robin GC, Floman Y (1984) Traumatic intraosseous ganglion. Bull. Hosp J Dis 44:82

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kricun ME (1985) Red-yellow marrow conversion: its effect on the location of some solitary bone lesions. Skeletal Radiol 14:10

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kushner DC, Vance Z, Kirkpatrick JA (1979) Case report 103, Post-traumatic aneurysmal bone cyst affecting third and fourth ribs. Skeletal Radiol 4:240

    Google Scholar 

  16. Langer F, Pritzker KP, Gross AE, Shapiro II (1982) Giant cell tumor associated with trauma. Clin Orthop 164:245

    Google Scholar 

  17. Levine BS, Dorfman HD, Matles AL (1969) Evolution of a post-fracture cyst of the fibula. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 51:1631

    Google Scholar 

  18. Levine AH, Pais MJ, Schwartz EE (1976) Posttraumatic osteolysis of the distal clavicle with emphasis on early radiologic changes. AJR 127:781

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lyle Hillman RS, Kieffer SA, Ortiz H, Clubb R (1975) Intraosseous leptomeningeal cysts of the posterior cranial fossa. Radiology 116:655

    Google Scholar 

  20. Pfister-Goedeke L, Braune M (1981) Cyst-like cortical defects following fractures in children. Pediatr Radiol 11:93

    Google Scholar 

  21. Roback DL (1980) Posttraumatic osteolysis of the femoral neck. AJR 134:1243

    Google Scholar 

  22. Sapone J, Hansen LS (1974) Traumatic bone cysts of jaws diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Oral Surg 38:127

    Google Scholar 

  23. Silverman FN (1985) Caffey's pediatric X-ray diagnosis: an integrated imaging approach, 8th edn. Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago, p 725

    Google Scholar 

  24. Stuart D (1976) Local osteo-articular tuberculosis complicating closed fractures. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 58:248

    Google Scholar 

  25. Taveras JM, Ransohoff J (1953) Leptomeningeal cysts of the brain following trauma with erosion of the skull: a study of seven cases treated by surgery. J Neurosurg 10:233

    Google Scholar 

  26. Testa C, Nizzoli V (1968) Fractures évolutives dans les traumatismes crâniens fermés de la première enfance aboutissant à la constitution d'une lacune crânienne. Neurochirurgie 14:111

    Google Scholar 

  27. Watson FM, Whitesides TE Jr (1976) Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis complicating closed fractures. Clin Orthop 117:296

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Louvain University, St-Luc University Hospital, Avenue Hippocrate, 10, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium

    J. Malghem M.D. & B. Maldague M.D.

Authors
  1. J. Malghem M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. Maldague M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Malghem, J., Maldague, B. Transient fatty cortical defects following fractures in children. Skeletal Radiol 15, 368–371 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348864

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348864

Key words

Search

Navigation