Which typical foot fractures should the radiologist know?

Due to mechanical loading and the number of joints involved, fractures of the foot are among the most common fractures. X-ray is basis for diagnostic workup of all foot fractures. For stress fractures, the additional use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is indicated. Computed tomography (CT) can be used for preoperative imaging of intraarticular tarsal fractures. Simple traumatic fractures can be reliably diagnosed by X-ray. On the other hand, there is a poor sensitivity for stress fractures. Using a combination of X-ray, MRI, and CT, it is possible to reliably diagnosis and classify foot fractures. The first step to diagnose a foot fracture should be the X-ray. CT and MRI can also be used to detect intra-articular fractures and MRI can be used for stress fractures. (orig.)