Thanks to the increasing use of ultrasonography in the diagnostic eval
uation of the musculoskeletal system. and the development of high-reso
lution ultrasonic transducers with ever better image quality, as well
as the greater general trend towards non-invasive techniques, the use
of ultrasonography in the diagnosis and follow-up of fractures would a
ppear to make good sense. The aim of the present experimental study wa
s, therefore, to identify the typical acoustic pattern of fractures an
d areas of bone impression and defects, while taking account of possib
le sources of error due to artefacts. Experiments were carried out on
cadaver bones immersed in a water bath, using 7.5 and 10 MHz linear tr
ansducers. Depending on its size, the bony defect is represented by an
interruption of the cortical echo, or a dorsal band of echoes limited
to the fracture zone. Of interest is the fact that fractures and bony
defects are not represented as such when the transducer is directed p
arallel to the line of the fracture or the impression area. Particular
attention needs to be paid to the numerous artefacts occurring at the
margins of the fracture, In summary, it may be noted that using resol
ution transducers under standardised experimental examination conditio
ns, cortical interruptions of not less than 1 mm can be identified.