Annals of emergency medicine
-
A retrospective review was made of fractures for which radiographic manifestations were missed by various physicians working in the ED. It revealed that fractures of three anatomic sites were being missed disproportionately often--fractures of the navicular, elbow, and calcaneus. Fractures of these sites were the most likely to be missed when present. ⋯ The elbow was the only site occurring both on the list of fractures missed disproportionately often and on the list of fractures missed most frequently. Some common fractures were not missed at all (Colle's fracture), and others were missed infrequently (hip fracture, midshaft long bone fracture). Knowledge of those fractures that are most likely to be missed makes possible a more directed educational effort.