Extremity radiograph unknown 2

Anshuman Bansal

JHU SOM

abansal1@jhmi.edu

David Marker

JHU SOM

dmarker@jhmi.edu

Publication Date: 2009-09-09

Findings

Look carefully at this AP x-ray of a patient's hand. There is a fracture here. The second image is the same patient 6 months later.

1. Which bone has been fractured?

   a	Trapezium Incorrect. The carpal bones are intact in this radiograph. Try again.
   b	Third metacarpal Incorrect. The 3rd metacarpal is intact on this radiograph. Try again.
   c	Fifth metacarpal Correct! The distal end of the fifth metacarpal has been fractured. If you follow the cortex on the medial side of the bone, you can see a break in the cortex of the bone. This is known as a "Boxer's fracture," often occuring after throwing a hard punch.
   d	Distal radius Incorrect. The radius is intact here. Try again.