This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists
Determining fracture location is important when describing a fracture and determining plans for management.
Reference article
This is a summary article. For more information, you can read a more in-depth reference articles: bone macroscopic structure.
Summary
When describing a fracture, location is not just about what bone is involved, but also about what part of the bone is involved - different parts of the bone are at risk of different complications.
- what bone
- name the bone
- determine the side
- there should be a side-marker on the film (L:R)
- what part of the bone
-
epiphysis
- between the growth plate and the joint surface
- most clearly seen when the growth plate is open (children)
- long bones may have one or two epiphyses
- femur has two
- phalanges have one
- some bones have no epiphyses
- carpal, tarsal, pelvic and skull bones
-
metaphysis
- between the growth plate and shaft of the bone
- the section of the bone that widens
- between the growth plate and shaft of the bone
-
diaphysis
- the shaft of the bone
-
epiphysis
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