Treatment of early-acute osteomyelitis in childhood: brief report.

Abstract

VOL. 69-B, No. 5, NOVEMBER 1987 Discussion. We agree with most other observers that positive fat pad signs indicate an effusion. In our series the presence of an effusion without a fracture on the initial radiograph equated with a rapid return to normal function. In only six cases was the effusion the only sign of a fracture which became apparent later, compared with the 45 patients with an effusion who had no demonstrable fracture even later. We therefore suggest that in patients who have injured the elbow a positive fat pad sign in isolation is not pathognomonic of a fracture and that unless there are any clinical indications the finding can be ignored.