The importance of sagittal 2D reconstruction in pelvic and sacral trauma: avoiding oversight of U-shaped fractures of the sacrum.

Abstract

The U-shaped sacral fracture can be overlooked without appropriate imaging. Radiographic and CT imaging of seven patients with U-shaped sacral fractures was reviewed. Although it is difficult to discern on anteroposterior radiographs and axial or coronal CT, the fracture is easily identifiable on CT images in the sagittal plane. We advocate reconstruction of CT images of the sacrum in the sagittal plane in trauma to prevent failure of identification.