Does an MRI accurately diagnose a clavicle fracture?

The article was consulted with Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thanh Hai - Radiologist - Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine - Vinmec Times City International Hospital.

Fracture of the clavicle can cause damage to the vascular system and cause osteolytic necrosis, so it needs to be treated promptly. When normal radiographs are used but a clavicle fracture is suspected, diagnostic MRI may be used.

In humeral masses, the clavicle is the most commonly involved bone. The cause of clavicle fracture is usually due to overextension of the wrist or the patient's hand on the wrist when falling. Fractures of the clavicle can cause damage to the vascular system and the most common complication of osteolytic necrosis, even with optimal care, can lead to degeneration or worse, disability of the neck joint. hand.
The most common symptoms of a clavicle fracture are:
The patient has pain and swelling in the fracture area; When pressed, it will hurt the wrist area; However, clavicle fractures often do not have obvious deformity, so a rotator cuff fracture is often misdiagnosed as a wrist sprain.

When using normal X-ray but suspecting rotator cuff fracture, MRI technique can be used to diagnose rotator cuff fracture, because MRI technique to diagnose rotator cuff fracture gives more accurate results than radiography. Bone CT in acute cases.
Besides, the MRI technique for diagnosing clavicle fractures also has the following advantages:
Highest sensitivity to fracture sites that are difficult to detect within 24 hours after injury; Immediately identify the fracture location as well as the location of ligament damage; Assess the state of blood vessels supplying bone in what condition; Sensitivity and specificity are up to 100%. Therefore, MRI technique is a method to help accurately diagnose clavicle fractures, thereby supporting appropriate and quick treatment for patients.

Treatment methods can be used: cast, surgery. Indication of which method to use must be decided by a specialist because if used improperly, it can cause necrosis of the clavicle, and ultimately reduce the function of the wrist joint.
If the thumb and wrist are cast for 2-3 months, the bone will heal. After the cast is removed, it may take up to a year for the patient to improve wrist mobility and joint function. The surgical method has a number of advantages such as: Less damage to the surrounding software; the risk of infection is reduced; short recovery time as well as reduced hospital stay... When choosing a surgical method to fuse the bones, the main goal is to immobilize the fracture and promote bone healing. Note, during the treatment, the patient should rest completely, in the first days after surgery, it is necessary to raise the arm to the level of the heart for better treatment results. The treating doctor often encourages the patient to move gently to avoid stiffness in the knuckles. In addition, the patient's wrist and fingers will be splinted to protect the broken bone during treatment. Within 3 months after surgery, the patient should avoid holding heavy objects to avoid bad effects and help the bones recover quickly.
Most wrist joints of people with clavicle fractures will return to normal function in about 4-6 months after surgery. However, depending on the severity of the fracture and possible complications, the recovery time may vary from person to person.
Patients with boat fractures can go to the Department of Rehabilitation - Vinmec International General Hospital for physical therapy and rehabilitation treatment. The department's strengths are rehabilitation for patients after orthopedic trauma surgery, cardiac - thoracic surgery and pediatric respiratory rehabilitation. In particular, Vinmec owns a team of doctors specialized in Rehabilitation with many years of experience and dedication to patients. The subdivisions such as: medical examination area, physical therapy area, movement therapy area, ... are spaciously designed, equipped with many modern equipments, bringing a comfortable feeling for patients to collect. get the best treatment results. At the same time, the Department of Rehabilitation is also equipped with a system of therapeutic machinery from leading countries in technology such as the Netherlands, Japan, etc., which will bring satisfaction to customers to use. services of Vinmec.