Traumatic Upper Extremity

It is either a dorsal avulsion or body fracture. Look for tenderness dorsally, distal to ulnar styloid.

PA view and transcapular view.

Scapular Y of the shoulder.

Scaphoid fracture of the wrist. The most common carpal fracture. Look for tenderness at the anatomic snuff box. Wrist x-ray is often negative.

Anterior and posterior “sail” sign. When present they should alert you to the high probability for a fracture.

The x-ray on the left demonstrates a rotator cuff tear. The image on the right shows a rotator cuff tear with superior migration of the humerus.

Fat pad sign. (Courtesy of Dr. N. Jaffer)

Posterior dislocation of humeral head (left). Normal is shown (right) for comparison.

A PA view of an olecranon fracture (left). A lateral view of an olecranon fracture (right).
[Courtesy of Dr. Tim Dowdell, St. Michael’s Hospital, Department of Medical Imaging]