SACRAL INSUFFICIENCY FRACTURES SPECTRUM OF RADIOLOGICAL FEATURES

Clinical and radiological features of 22 Chinese patients with sacral insufficiency fractures were reviewed. Twenty-one were postmenopausal women, Other risk factors were external pelvic radiotherapy (eight) an d total hip replacement (two). Severe low back pain was the most commo n presenting complaint. Fractures initially were demonstrated by bone scintigraphy in 21 and computed tomography (CT) in seven patients, Con comitant parasymphyseal and pubic rami fractures were detected in 17 a nd 10 patients, respectively, Follow-up assessment by CT and bone scin tigraphy in five patients showed various stages of fracture healing, R ecognition of the radiological patterns of this entity is emphasized.