Radiography of orthopedic trauma and fracture repair

Radiology reports of orthopedic trauma, repair, and healing may have incomplete descriptions of radiographic findings, inaccurate terminology, inappropriate remarks, and omission of helpful information. A good radiology interpretation and report should be such that if read over the telephone, a radiologist, clinician, or orthopedist could mentally reconstruct an image of the fracture, surrounding tissues, and stage of fracture repair. Suggestions for additional imaging and other appropriate remarks should be included. An appropriate radiographic interpretation should include that information relative to trauma and repair which can be determined from the radiograph and not that which must be acquired from anamnesis and physical examination.