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 r adiography, computed tomography (CT) scan and ultrasonography to the a rea suspected clinically. Ultrasonography detected and localized radio lucent foreign bodies in 18 of the 31 patients, while only 14 were see n on CT scan. Following surgical exploration, the presence of foreign bodies was confirmed in 20 patients; thus, the accuracy of ultrasonogr aphy was 90 degrees while that of CT scan was 70 degrees. 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.