C.T. imaging of the foot and ankle

Acute or chronic injuries to the tarsus are sometimes very difficult to diagnose on conventional X-ray examination, due to the nature of the injury sustained or the subtle changes that are sought. Patients with these injuries proceed to Nuclear Medicine bone scan examination to find if there is an injury, but this examination does not yield the detail or extent of damage that is required by orthopedic surgeons. Computerized tomography (C.T.) imaging produces exquisite bony detail in the axial and coronal planes that make diagnosis simple and treatment easily planned. C.T. is clearly superior to plain film examination in the search for fibrous tarsal coalition, and yields greater anatomical information in patients with known osseous foot disorders. C.T. may also demonstrate multiplicity of coalition. 9 figs