Ultrasonography detection of radiolucent foreign bodies in soft tissue compared to computed tomography scan

Thirty-one patients with suspected radiolucent foreign bodies (wooden splinters) in soft tissues of extremities were investigated by plain radiography, computed tomography (CT) scan and ultrasonography to the area suspected clinically. Ultrasonography detected and localized radiolucent foreign bodies in 18 of the 31 patients, while only 14 were seen on CT scan. Following surgical exploration, the presence of foreign bodies was confirmed in 20 patients; thus, the accuracy of ultrasonography was 90% while that of CT scan was 70%. The size of foreign body, the presence of infection or the delay in diagnosis had no effect on results. Ultrasonography is clearly a reliable method of detecting radiolucent foreign bodies in soft tissues of extremities.

Free fibular graft still has a place in the treatment of bone defects

We report on 27 patients illustrating the use of non-vascularized single fibular strut graft, augmented with a corticocancellous bone graft to bridge bone defects. The indications were varied and included infection, fracture with bone loss, non-union, bone tumour, bone cyst and congenital pseudarthrosis. Primary union was achieved in 92 per cent. Stress fracture occurred in 26 per cent and no significant fibular graft hypertrophy occurred. The aim of this paper is to show that the non-vascularized single fibular graft, if augmented with corticocancellous bone graft along its whole length, is a simple procedure that is still valid to bridge bone defects.