SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF LIPOHEMARTHROSIS - CLINICAL AND IN-VITRO STUDY

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of sonography in dia gnosing lipohemarthrosis. Sonography was performed on seven patients w ith intra-articular fractures of the knee, shoulder, and hip. An in vi tro mixture of fat and blood was examined as the gold standard. In the patients scanned a few minutes after immobilization, a two-band appea rance of joint effusion was present, representing a fat-blood level. O ne patient scanned 3 hours after immobilization showed a three-band ap pearance of joint effusion, corresponding to the layers of fat, serum and red blood cells. Results of this study indicate a high reliability of ultrasonography in detecting lipohemarthrosis.