[Medical Q&A] Can a suspected fracture be confirmed by taking an X-ray?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Shao Zengwu, Chief Physician and Professor of Union Hospital affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

If a fracture is suspected, an X-ray alone is not enough and several tests may be done to confirm the diagnosis.

1. X-ray examination: X-ray examination is essential for judging the fracture condition. The injured part should be photographed in the anteroposterior and lateral positions including the adjacent joints. If necessary, special positions or corresponding parts of the healthy side should be photographed to assist in comparison.

2. CT examination: CT examination is advantageous in judging the degree and displacement of complex fractures or deep injuries. For example, for fractures of the hip joint, pelvis, spine, etc., CT examination can be used to judge the injury and reproduce it in three dimensions.

3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination: MRI examination can understand the pathological changes of the injured part and the surrounding soft tissues, such as whether the spinal fracture is combined with spinal cord injury, knee meniscus injury, ligament injury, etc. MRI examination cannot be replaced by X-ray examination and CT examination.