Radiologic clinics of North America
-
Bone graft materials quickly are becoming a vital tool in reconstructive orthopedic surgery and demonstrate considerable variability in their imaging appearance. Functions of bone graft materials include promoting osseous ingrowth and bone healing, providing a structural substrate for these processes, and serving as a vehicle for direct antibiotic delivery. The three primary types of bone graft materials are allografts, autografts, and synthetic bone graft substitutes.
-
Spinal instrumentation techniques have expanded dramatically during the past several decades, but the search for the perfect operative approach and fixation system continues. Fixation devices are designed for the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral segments using anterior, posterior, transverse, videoarthroscopic, and combined approaches. ⋯ Radiologists must understand the operative and instrumentation options. Knowledge of expected results, appearance of graft material, and different forms of instrumentation is critical for evaluating position of implants and potential complications associated with operative approaches and spinal fixation devices.
-
This article describes the relevant surgical detail and MR imaging appearance of common operations performed in the foot and ankle. To evaluate postsurgical patients critically, it is important to understand the primary clinical diagnosis, surgical treatment undergone, the interval since surgery, and patients' current clinical symptoms. Radiography is the most common imaging modality for evaluation of the postoperative ankle and foot. MR imaging may be useful for evaluating the soft tissues and osseous structures in the postsurgical foot and ankle.