DOI: 10.1148/rg.244045015
Musculoskeletal Colloquialisms: How Did We Come Up with These Names?1
Patrick Lee, MD,
Tim B. Hunter, MD and
Mihra Taljanovic, MD
1 From the Department of Radiology, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY (P.L.); and Department of Radiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N Campbell Ave, PO Box 245067, Tucson, AZ 85724-5067 (T.B.H., M.T.). Received February 11, 2004; revision requested March 10 and received March 30; accepted March 30. Address correspondence to T.B.H. (e-mail: tbh@3towers.com).
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Figure 1. Drawing of a skeleton standing in standard anatomic position illustrates the relative location of musculoskeletal injuries named with colloquial terms.
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Figure 2. Baseball finger (dropped finger, mallet finger). Lateral view of a child’s index finger shows an avulsion fracture off the dorsal base of the distal phalanx (arrow). Because the deep extensor tendon attached to the distal phalanx at the osseous avulsion, the distal portion of the distal phalanx has no extensor tendon attachment and "drops" in a volar direction.
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Figure 3a. Bowing fracture. (a) Frontal chest radiograph of a young trauma patient shows a plastic deformity of the right clavicle (arrow). (b) Lateral forearm radiograph of a different young trauma patient shows a plastic bowing deformity of the radius (arrows).
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Figure 3b. Bowing fracture. (a) Frontal chest radiograph of a young trauma patient shows a plastic deformity of the right clavicle (arrow). (b) Lateral forearm radiograph of a different young trauma patient shows a plastic bowing deformity of the radius (arrows).
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Figure 4. Boxer fracture. Radiograph shows a fracture of the fifth metacarpal neck with volar angulation of the distal portion of the metacarpal (arrow).
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Figure 5a. Bucket-handle fracture. Radiographs of the right knee in a 10-month-old infant, who was a victim of child abuse and sustained multiple bone injuries, show a corner fracture at the distal end of the right femoral metaphysis (arrow in a), which later developed into a bucket-handle fracture (arrows in b) with further healing and further trauma. (Fig 5a and 5b courtesy of Rebecca L. Hulett, MD, Tucson, Ariz.)
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Figure 5b. Bucket-handle fracture. Radiographs of the right knee in a 10-month-old infant, who was a victim of child abuse and sustained multiple bone injuries, show a corner fracture at the distal end of the right femoral metaphysis (arrow in a), which later developed into a bucket-handle fracture (arrows in b) with further healing and further trauma. (Fig 5a and 5b courtesy of Rebecca L. Hulett, MD, Tucson, Ariz.)
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Figure 6a. Burst fracture. (a) Lateral radiograph of the thoracic spine shows a complex fracture of T12 (arrows). (b) Computed tomographic (CT) scan better demonstrates the "burst" appearance of the vertebral fracture (arrows).
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Figure 6b. Burst fracture. (a) Lateral radiograph of the thoracic spine shows a complex fracture of T12 (arrows). (b) Computed tomographic (CT) scan better demonstrates the "burst" appearance of the vertebral fracture (arrows).
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Figure 7. Butterfly fragment. Frontal radiograph of the right femur shows a large butterfly-shaped bone fragment (arrow) next to a fracture in the proximal shaft. An intramedullary rod was placed to stabilize the fracture.
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Figure 8. Chauffeur fracture (backfire fracture, Hutchinson fracture). Frontal radiograph of the wrist shows a vertical fracture of the radial styloid process (arrows).
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Figure 9. Chisel fracture. Frontal radiograph of the elbow shows a nondisplaced radial head fracture (arrows), which appears as if the bone were struck by a chisel.
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Figure 10. Clay-shoveler fracture. Lateral view of the cervical spine shows fractures of the spinous processes of C6 and C7 (arrows).
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Figure 11. Dancer fracture. Frontal radiograph of the foot shows an oblique, minimally displaced avulsion fracture at the base of the fifth metatarsal (arrow).
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Figure 12. Dashboard fracture. Frontal view of the pelvis shows a posterior superior hip dislocation with fracture of the posterior acetabular rim.
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Figure 13a. Gamekeeper thumb (break-dancer thumb, skier thumb, skier pole injury). (a) Frontal radiograph shows a fracture (arrow) at the ulnar corner of the proximal phalanx of the thumb. Most gamekeeper injuries involve tears of the ulnar collateral ligament and do not have an associated fracture. (b) Sonogram of a different patient shows a complete tear (between the cursors) of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint.
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Figure 13b. Gamekeeper thumb (break-dancer thumb, skier thumb, skier pole injury). (a) Frontal radiograph shows a fracture (arrow) at the ulnar corner of the proximal phalanx of the thumb. Most gamekeeper injuries involve tears of the ulnar collateral ligament and do not have an associated fracture. (b) Sonogram of a different patient shows a complete tear (between the cursors) of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint.
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Figure 14. Golfer wrist. CT scan of the wrist shows a fracture of the hook of the hamate (arrow).
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Figure 15a. Greenstick fracture. Frontal (a) and lateral (b) images of a 5-year-old child who fell off a bike show incomplete fractures of the radius and ulna. The cortex is fully broken (black arrows) on one side of the bones and intact on the other side (white arrows).
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Figure 15b. Greenstick fracture. Frontal (a) and lateral (b) images of a 5-year-old child who fell off a bike show incomplete fractures of the radius and ulna. The cortex is fully broken (black arrows) on one side of the bones and intact on the other side (white arrows).
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Figure 16. Hangman fracture. Lateral view of the cervical spine in a motor vehicle accident patient shows bilateral fractures (arrow) through the lamina of the axis (C2) associated with subluxation of the body of the axis on C3.
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Figure 17a. Housemaid knee. (a) Sagittal T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) image of the knee shows fluid (arrow) in the prepatellar bursa. (b) Axial fat-saturated intermediate-weighted MR image also shows the fluid (*) in the prepatellar bursa.
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Figure 17b. Housemaid knee. (a) Sagittal T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) image of the knee shows fluid (arrow) in the prepatellar bursa. (b) Axial fat-saturated intermediate-weighted MR image also shows the fluid (*) in the prepatellar bursa.
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Figure 18a. Jumper knee. Sagittal T1-weighted (a) and fat-saturated intermediate-weighted (b) MR images of the knee show proximal patellar tendon changes (arrow), consistent with microtears and edema caused by repetitive overloading of the knee during extensive sports activities.
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Figure 18b. Jumper knee. Sagittal T1-weighted (a) and fat-saturated intermediate-weighted (b) MR images of the knee show proximal patellar tendon changes (arrow), consistent with microtears and edema caused by repetitive overloading of the knee during extensive sports activities.
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Figure 19. Little League elbow. Frontal and lateral views of the elbow in an active Little League pitcher shows rarefaction and fragmentation of the capitellum (arrow) from repetitive overuse of the elbow.
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Figure 20a. March fracture (fatigue fracture). (a, b) Frontal radiographs of the right foot in a college gymnast show the early (a) and late (b) radiographic findings of a second metatarsal fatigue fracture (arrow). The fracture completely healed with rest. (c, d) Coronal T2-weighted fat-saturated (c) and sagittal T1-weighted (d) MR images obtained at the same time as a show marked mass effect (arrows) around the second metatarsal. This finding could have been misinterpreted as a neoplasm or infectious process without the radiographs and proper patient history.
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Figure 20b. March fracture (fatigue fracture). (a, b) Frontal radiographs of the right foot in a college gymnast show the early (a) and late (b) radiographic findings of a second metatarsal fatigue fracture (arrow). The fracture completely healed with rest. (c, d) Coronal T2-weighted fat-saturated (c) and sagittal T1-weighted (d) MR images obtained at the same time as a show marked mass effect (arrows) around the second metatarsal. This finding could have been misinterpreted as a neoplasm or infectious process without the radiographs and proper patient history.
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Figure 20c. March fracture (fatigue fracture). (a, b) Frontal radiographs of the right foot in a college gymnast show the early (a) and late (b) radiographic findings of a second metatarsal fatigue fracture (arrow). The fracture completely healed with rest. (c, d) Coronal T2-weighted fat-saturated (c) and sagittal T1-weighted (d) MR images obtained at the same time as a show marked mass effect (arrows) around the second metatarsal. This finding could have been misinterpreted as a neoplasm or infectious process without the radiographs and proper patient history.
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Figure 20d. March fracture (fatigue fracture). (a, b) Frontal radiographs of the right foot in a college gymnast show the early (a) and late (b) radiographic findings of a second metatarsal fatigue fracture (arrow). The fracture completely healed with rest. (c, d) Coronal T2-weighted fat-saturated (c) and sagittal T1-weighted (d) MR images obtained at the same time as a show marked mass effect (arrows) around the second metatarsal. This finding could have been misinterpreted as a neoplasm or infectious process without the radiographs and proper patient history.
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Figure 21. Nightstick fracture. Frontal view of the forearm in a patient injured in a motor vehicle accident shows a minimally displaced fracture (arrows) of the distal ulnar shaft.
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Figure 22a. Nursemaid elbow. (a, b) Frontal (a) and lateral (b) radiographs of the right elbow in a young child whose arm was jerked by an older sibling demonstrates dislocation of the radius. A line through the central axis of the radial shaft does not intersect the capitellum. The radial head has not yet ossified. (c) Frontal view obtained after reduction of the dislocation shows that a line through the central axis of the radial shaft now intersects the capitellum.
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Figure 22b. Nursemaid elbow. (a, b) Frontal (a) and lateral (b) radiographs of the right elbow in a young child whose arm was jerked by an older sibling demonstrates dislocation of the radius. A line through the central axis of the radial shaft does not intersect the capitellum. The radial head has not yet ossified. (c) Frontal view obtained after reduction of the dislocation shows that a line through the central axis of the radial shaft now intersects the capitellum.
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Figure 22c. Nursemaid elbow. (a, b) Frontal (a) and lateral (b) radiographs of the right elbow in a young child whose arm was jerked by an older sibling demonstrates dislocation of the radius. A line through the central axis of the radial shaft does not intersect the capitellum. The radial head has not yet ossified. (c) Frontal view obtained after reduction of the dislocation shows that a line through the central axis of the radial shaft now intersects the capitellum.
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Figure 23a. Seat belt fracture (Chance fracture). (a) Lateral radiograph of the thoracolumbar junction in a trauma patient shows a mild compression deformity in L1 and a fracture (arrows) that spans all three columns of the vertebra. (b) Sagittal reformatted image from a CT study shows the same findings (arrows) as observed radiographically.
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Figure 23b. Seat belt fracture (Chance fracture). (a) Lateral radiograph of the thoracolumbar junction in a trauma patient shows a mild compression deformity in L1 and a fracture (arrows) that spans all three columns of the vertebra. (b) Sagittal reformatted image from a CT study shows the same findings (arrows) as observed radiographically.
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Figure 24a. Tennis elbow. (a) Coronal T2-weighted fat-saturated MR image of the right elbow in an active tennis player shows inflammation and at least partial rupture of the common extensor tendon (arrow). (b) Sonogram shows a partial tear and degeneration with edema (arrow) at the attachment of the common extensor tendon at the lateral epicondyle.
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Figure 24b. Tennis elbow. (a) Coronal T2-weighted fat-saturated MR image of the right elbow in an active tennis player shows inflammation and at least partial rupture of the common extensor tendon (arrow). (b) Sonogram shows a partial tear and degeneration with edema (arrow) at the attachment of the common extensor tendon at the lateral epicondyle.
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Figure 25. Toddler fracture. Frontal radiograph of a young ambulatory infant, who fell and twisted his right lower leg, shows a spiral fracture (arrows) in the distal portion of the tibia.
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Figure 26a. Torus fracture. (a) Frontal radiograph of the wrist in a young child, who fell on her outstretched hand, shows buckling (arrows) of the metaphyseal cortex. (b) Idealized drawing of a classic Greek column illustrates the resemblance of the column torus to the fracture in a.
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Figure 26b. Torus fracture. (a) Frontal radiograph of the wrist in a young child, who fell on her outstretched hand, shows buckling (arrows) of the metaphyseal cortex. (b) Idealized drawing of a classic Greek column illustrates the resemblance of the column torus to the fracture in a.
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Figure 27. Wagon wheel fracture. Lateral radiograph of a young trauma patient shows anterior subluxation of the distal femoral epiphysis from the main portion of the femur.
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Copyright © 2004 by the Radiological Society of North America.
