What does an anterior fat pad sign mean?
The sail sign on an elbow radiograph, also known as the anterior fat pad sign, describes the elevation of the anterior fat pad to create a silhouette similar to a billowing spinnaker sail from a boat. It indicates the presence of an elbow joint effusion.
What is a positive fat pad sign?
An elevated anterior lucency and/or a visible posterior lucency on a true lateral radiograph of an elbow flexed at 90° is described as a positive fat pad sign (,Fig 1).
What are the three fat pads of the elbow?
There are three fat pads of the elbow, which sit between the two layers of the joint capsule, making them extrasynovial 3,4:
- coronoid fossa fat pad (anterior)
- radial fossa fat pad (anterior)
- olecranon fossa fat pad (posterior)
How many fat pads are in the elbow?
The posterior fat displacement is clearly seen in the lateral view. the fat is readily recognizable in the radio- graph. The two anterior fat pads which fit into the coronoid and radial fossae are seen as a single triangular area of radio- lucency on the lateral flexion view of the normal elbow (Figs.
What is a fat pad elbow xray?
The fat pad sign, also known as the sail sign, is a potential finding on elbow radiography which suggests a fracture of one or more bones at the elbow. It is may indicate an occult fracture that is not directly visible. Its name derives from the fact that it has the shape of a spinnaker (sail).
What is a fat pad elbow?
What is a ‘fat pad sign’? A fat pad sign is when the normal pad of fat that sits around the bones in the elbow becomes raised up. This is usually due to swelling in that part of the elbow.
Are anterior fat pads normal?
The fat pad sign is invaluable in assessing for the presence of an intra-articular fracture of the elbow. An anterior fat pad is often normal. However a posterior fat pad seen on a lateral x-ray of the elbow is always abnormal.
What does fat pad mean?
A fat pad (aka haversian gland) is a mass of closely packed fat cells surrounded by fibrous tissue septa. They may be extensively supplied with capillaries and nerve endings. Examples are: Intraarticular fat pads. These are also covered by a layer of synovial cells.
How long do fat pads last?
Your child may have some pain but it should not be severe. It should improve over the next 4-5 days, but some children can experience mild pain for a couple of weeks.