Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Non-displaced distal radius fracture with fat-fluid levels in the adjacent extensor tendon sheaths on MRI

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We report a rare case of fat-fluid levels in the extensor tendon sheaths of the wrist on MRI. An 18-year-old female sustained a direct injury to her left hand while playing soccer. Plain radiographs showed soft tissue swelling with no definite fracture plane appreciated on the initial review of the images. The pain and swelling were severe and an MRI was obtained to evaluate for fracture and soft tissue injury. The MRI demonstrated a cortical defect near Lister’s tubercle and multiple fat-fluid levels within the extensor tendon sheaths. This is the first reported case of fat-fluid levels within the extensor tendon sheaths on MRI, with only one previous case report of this entity on CT.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  1. Costa DN, Cavalcanti CFA, Sernik RA. Sonographic and CT findings in lipohemarthrosis. Am J Roentgenol. 2007;188(4):W389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Le Coroller T, Parratte S, Zink JV, Argenson JL, Champsaur P. Floating fat in the wrist and in the tendon sheaths. Skelet Radiol. 2010;39(9):931–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Cvitanic OA, Henzie GM, Adham M. Communicating foramen between the tendon sheaths of the extensor carpi radialis brevis and extensor pollicis longus muscles: imaging of cadavers and patients. Am J Roentgenol. 2007;189(5):1190–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zbrodowski A, Gajisin S, Grodecki J. Intersynovial communication between the tendon sheaths of the extensor pollicis longus and extensor carpi radialis brevis muscles. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 1985;10(2):162–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. De Lima JE, Kim HJ, Albertotti F, Resnick D. Intersection syndrome: MR imaging with anatomic comparison of the distal forearm. Skelet Radiol. 2004;33:627–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of Interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    Michael McConnell & Hal Cohen

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    Matthew Scuderi

Authors
  1. Michael McConnell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hal Cohen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Matthew Scuderi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael McConnell.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McConnell, M., Cohen, H. & Scuderi, M. Non-displaced distal radius fracture with fat-fluid levels in the adjacent extensor tendon sheaths on MRI. Skeletal Radiol 42, 1761–1765 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1685-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1685-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation