Fig. 18.

Complications of fractures. Postsurgical complications. a Axial sonogram in a patient with the previous fracture of the radius shaft treated by an osteosynthesis plate. A screw’s tip (black arrow) can be seen protruding from the surface of the bone cortex. Note swelling, oedema (asterisks), and hypervascular changes in the soft tissues surrounding the screw due to local impingement. b Longitudinal US images obtained over the lateral aspect of the inferior fibula in a patient with local fracture treated by an osteosynthesis plate. US images the surgical plate (black arrow). Note that the superficial branch of the fibular nerve (black arrowheads) is hypoechoic and thickened because of trauma during recent surgery. c Axial sonogram obtained over the proximal metaphysis in a patient with previous arthroscopic surgery for ACL tear. The screw inside the tibial tunnel (arrows) protrudes from the bone cortex and causes local bursitis (white arrowhead) and pain to local pressure. To confirm the origin of the patient’s pain, a US-guided anaesthetic injection was performed. Note the needle (void arrowheads) inserted under real-time scanning the tip of the needle is in contact with the screw