Honda sign (sacrum)

Last revised by Bahman Rasuli ◉ on 26 Feb 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Bickle I, Rasuli B, Bell D, et al. Honda sign (sacrum). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 09 Jun 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-43263

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-43263

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/43263?iframe=true

rID:

43263

Article created:

3 Mar 2016, Ian Bickle ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Ian Bickle had no recorded disclosures.

View Ian Bickle's current disclosures

Last revised:

26 Feb 2021, Bahman Rasuli ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Bahman Rasuli had no recorded disclosures.

View Bahman Rasuli's current disclosures

Revisions:

12 times, by 6 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal, Spine

Sections:

Signs

Tags:

refs

Synonyms:

H sign
H pattern
Honda sign in sacral insufficiency fracture

The Honda sign (H sign / H pattern) is a term used to describe the appearance of bilateral sacral insufficiency fractures on a radioisotope bone scan.

Radiographic features

Sacral insufficiency fractures are usually vertically through the sacral alae, paralleling the sacroiliac joint, often with a transverse component - this pattern resembles the capital letter H, leading to the designation of the Honda sign / H sign / H pattern.

With the more common availability of MRI, radioisotope scans (technetium 99m HDP) are less commonly undertaken.

History and etymology

The name derives from the appearance of the Honda car manufacturer's logo (badge), with the H-shaped appearance representing the areas of increased radioisotope uptake in the sacral alae medial to the sacroiliac joints with a band connecting the bilateral areas of vertical uptake.