Use of Percussion as a Screening Tool in the Diagnosis of Occult Hip Fractures

Mohan Tiru, SH Goh, BY Low
Correspondence: Dr Mohan Tiru, Mohan_Tiru@cgh.com.sg

ABSTRACT
Traumatic hip pain is a common clinical problem in the emergency department. There is significant morbidity in discharging a patient with an undiagnosed undisplaced hip fracture. The auscultatory percussion technique is a useful method to risk stratify patients who present with traumatic hip pain and with normal radiographs. We sought to study the sensitivity and specificity of the auscultatory percussion technique in a prospective study.

Keywords: Hip fracture, auscultatory percussion, normal radiography, sensitivity, specificity
Singapore Med J 2002; 43(9): 467-469