Fracture or a normal ossification center?
This is a common question heard when viewing an xray of a pediatric elbow. How do you remember the timing of normal ossification centers? FYI, the xray images above are normal and have no fractures.
Trick of the Trade:
The mnemonic CRITOE 1-3-5-7-9-11
- Age 1 year: Capitellum
- Age 3 years: Radial head
- Age 5 years: Internal (medial) epicondyle
- Age 7 years: Trochlea
- Age 9 years: Olecranon
- Age 11 years: Extrenal (lateral) epicondyle
This great video is from a relatively new YouTube channel that I stumbled upon called "Radiology Channel", which is a Radiopaedia.org project featuring short polished presentations by Dr Andrew Dixon, Dr Frank Gaillard and Dr Jeremy Jones.