Radiology

Question 1

What are some differences between an adult and child skeleton?

Answer 1

Children’s skeletons have:

Growth plates (growing tissue at ends of long bones)

More skull sutures

Not all bones are ossified yet (still cartilaginous)

Apophyses (outcrop of bone that attaches to muscle, seen in adults too but more in kids)

Bones are more plastic (flexible)

Fontanelle

Question 2

Draw and label the structure of a growing long bone.

Answer 2

Google it

Include: physis, epiphysis, metaphysis, diaphysis

Question 3

What’s another name for ‘growth plate’?

Answer 3

Physis

Question 4

What can you do if a child is not compliant enough to have a scan?

Answer 4

Use sedation or general anaesthetic.

Question 5

What is important to consider before you use sedation or GA to scan a child?

Answer 5

Have they eaten recently? They need to be starved for a while before.