Dorsal fat pad sign (wrist)

Last revised by Andrew Murphy on 25 Apr 2019

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Klaassen K, Murphy A, Dorsal fat pad sign (wrist). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 16 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-63394

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-63394

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/63394

rID:

63394

Article created:

1 Oct 2018, Kassey Klaassen

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Kassey Klaassen had no recorded disclosures.

View Kassey Klaassen's current disclosures

Last revised:

25 Apr 2019, Andrew Murphy ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Andrew Murphy had no recorded disclosures.

View Andrew Murphy's current disclosures

Revisions:

3 times, by 2 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Signs

Synonyms:

Dorsal fat stripe sign
Dorsal skin cutaneous fat pad sign
Dorsal skin cutaneous fat stripe sign
Wrist fat pads

A positive dorsal fat pad or stripe sign is defined as a convex dorsal displacement of the dorsal fat pad of the wrist. A positive sign may indicate a distal radius fracture. Is it best visualized on the lateral view of the wrist.

Anatomy

The normal dorsal skin subcutaneous fat pad is a thin concave, curvilinear collection of fat overlying the dorsal aspect of the carpus. It is located between the dorsal extensor tendons and the joint capsule. Radiolucency of the dorsal fat pad is normal when concave or curvilinear.