role of radionuclide imaging and computerized axial tomography to reveal equivocal fractures in medicolegal practice

ABSTRACT

Four hundred sixty-six medicolegal cases were re-examined during the period of 3-years from 1998 to 2000 for correctness or otherwise of the challenged medicolegal certificates issued by the first examining medicolegal officer, and referred by the Health Authorities. Out of 466 cases, 190 [40.77%] cases were decided. 15 [7.89%] cases which were initially wrongly interpreted by the concerned medicolegal officer regarding the presence of nondisplaced fractures, were reviewed by the panel of experts, and keeping in view the persistent pain following trauma where the conservative radiograph failed to reveal fracture, specialized techniques in radiology i.e., Computerized Axial Tomography and Radionuclide Imaging, were utilized which showed 100% result by revealing fractures