Quix X-ray terminology I don't understand

[LLWB]

Good Evening. Quix.....On Sept 9 I tripped and fell on my tile floor, on my right hip. The next night I couldn't raise my leg high enough to step up on the curb, so went to ER. They told me no signs of a break. I saw my PCP a month later, and it still hurt. He showed me the ER radiologist report that said I had a mal-alignment of the public symphysis. My PCP wanted further X-rays of both hips (only right one done at ER) and pelvis. The results  (which I had to fight the receptionist to get, LOL)  said I had degenerative change of pubic symphysis. and posttraumatic fragmentation at the left greater trochanter with cortical whiskering of the right greater trochanter superiorly, suggesting prior injury. No acute or healing fracture.

I know where the trochanters are, and the public symphysis, but I don't understand what cortical whiskering is, or what might cause it. I have looked in medical dictionarys, Med help sites, etc., with no help, so am turning to my  fantastic on-site expert!! I won't see my PCP until middle of Dec.

I have lots of pain horizontally acroos my lower back, pain when lying on either side at night, and generally just a feces attitude. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Oh well, Spring is coming...........right? Please say yes, I hate rain!!

Maggie

[LLWB]

Bump

[LLWB]

Bump

[rendean]

HI,

I googled the term "cortical whiskering trochanter radiology" and found a Google Book reference that explains whiskering. It is in the book Differential Diagnosis In Conventional  Radiology by Francis Burgener, et al. Page 36 has the description.
On my search it was the first result.

This is a definition and not an explanation for the cause in your specific case. It discusses several different possibilites.

Hope this helps until you see the doctor.

Ren

[Quixotic1]

Well, in radiology they usually use descriptive words so whiskering would be a whiskers-like appearance of the bone.  The cortex is the hard, calcified outside of the bone.

After an injury that breaks through the cortex there is a healing process that begins immediately.  On xray you see a fluffy, translucent appearance that looks like cotton around the site.  Then as the healing progresses the cottony part shrinks down and leaves areas that are more definitely calcified - and I would suppose this is the "whiskered" appearance that is described.

I couldn't tell you how long after the first injury that it might retain this whiskered appearance, though.

Quix

[LLWB]

Thank you both so much for your replies.  Ren: My internet search engine is bing, which showed nothing, and checked out all the medical sites. Should have used google!! I'll do it shortly. Thank you.

Quix.....I knew you would have an explanation. I knew you would know something about it. The funny (NOT) thing is it's not the hip I fell on! Oh well, my PCP says I had entirely too much fun in my youth. Gee....I don't remember fun?

Again, thanks so much......

Maggie