Objective sound wave amplitude measurement generated by a tuning fork. An analysis of its use as a diagnostic tool in suspected femoral neck fractures

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• 作者：Z. Jawad^a ; ^{zaynabj@doctors.org.uk} ; A. Odumala^a ; M. Jones^b
• 关键词：Femoral neck fracture ; Sound wave ; Tuning fork ; MRI ; Occult hip fracture
• 刊名：Injury
• 出版年：2012
• 期刊代码：120_00201383
• 类别：med
• 出版时间：June, 2012
• 卷：43
• 期：6
• 页码：835-837
• 文件大小：283 K

摘要

Introduction

Hip injuries are becoming a more common problem as the elderly population increases and their management represents a significant proportion of health care costs. Diagnosis of a fracture based on clinical assessment and plain films is not always conclusive and further investigations for such occult fractures, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are sometimes required which are expensive and may be difficult to access. Disruption to the conduction of a sound wave travelling through a fractured bone is a concept that has been used to diagnose fractures.

Patients and methods

In our study we used a tuning fork with frequency of 128 Hz to objectively measure the reduction in sound amplitude in fractured and non-fractured hips. We looked at the feasibility of using this test as a diagnostic tool for neck of femur fractures.

Results

A total of 20 patients was included in the study, using MRI scan as the standard for comparison of diagnostic findings. Informed consent was obtained from the patients. There was a significant difference in the amplitude reduction of the sound waves when comparing normal to fractured hips. This was 0.9 in normal hips, compared to 0.31 and 0.18 in intra-capsular and extra-capsular fractures, respectively. Our test was 80%accurate at diagnosing neck of femur fractures.

Conclusion

In conclusion this test may be used as a diagnostic test or screening tool in the assessment of occult hip fractures.