IMPORTANT: We currently have a number of bugs related to image cropping and are actively trying to resolve them. In the meantime, we have disabled cropping. Apologies for any inconvenience. Stay informed: radiopaedia.org/chat

Torus fracture of the radius

Case contributed by Leonardo Lustosa
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Direct hit of a football to the hand with the wrist extended. Discrete deformity visible upon inspection.

Patient Data

Age: 13 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

Forearm radiographs revealed a bulging of the cortex of the distal metaphysis of the radius, a torus fracture.

There is also a discrete minimally displaced physeal fracture of the distal radius (Salter-Harris type IV).

See annotated images below.

Annotated image

The physeal fracture is pointed by the white arrowheads on the frontal radiograph.

The bulging of the cortex is annotated in red on the lateral radiograph.

 

Case Discussion

Torus fractures, also known as buckle fractures, are incomplete fractures of the shaft of long bones, usually occurring on immature skeletons.

Physeal fractures are fractures with the involvement of the growth plates. They are commonly classified using the Salter-Harris classification.

In the present case, the fracture line passes through the epiphysis and the metaphysis, characterizing a Salter-Harris type IV.

How to use cases

You can use Radiopaedia cases in a variety of ways to help you learn and teach.

Creating your own cases is easy.

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.