Musculoskeletal Radiology Curriculum for

Radiology Residents
Donald Flemming, MD, Kirkland W. Davis, MD, Philip A. Dinauer, MD
Amilcare Gentili, MD, Charles S. Resnik, MD, Thomas J. Learch, MD,
Nancy M. Major, MD, Jeffrey J. Peterson, MD, Neil A. Roach, MD, Carolyn
M. Sofka, MD,

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the body that
accredits medical residency programs in the United States, has established Residency
Review Committees (RRC) for each specialty. Representatives of these committees
evaluate training programs throughout the country to determine whether they meet
established standards for resident education. In an effort to ensure that resident education
is sufficient and that quality health care remains available in the United States, the
ACGME has established six General Competencies that residents in all specialties must
achieve, and has determined that each residency must be able to assess their residents’
progress in achieving these competencies through Practice Performance Measurements.
The Competencies include patient care (PC), medical knowledge (MK), practice-based
learning and improvement (PBL), interpersonal and communication skills (ICS),
professionalism (P), and systems-based practice (SBP). The RRC for Diagnostic
Radiology has defined the Competencies as they apply to radiology and has provided a
list of required and suggested Practice Performance Measurements for each Competency.
This information is available at the ACGME website, listed in the References section of
this document.1 As of July 1, 2006, all radiology residency programs are expected to
meet these standards during their periodic accreditation evaluations,.

For diagnostic radiology residency programs, certain standards must be met for the
residency program as a whole. These include semi-annual face-to-face evaluation for
each resident, written evaluations for each rotation, training in medical physics and
radiation safety, a program of didactic lectures, and specific requirements for
mammography training.2 For each of the nine subspecialty areas, there are additional
requirements. Each subspecialty must have a written curriculum that specifies goals for
each resident rotation on that subspecialty, and specific knowledge based and technical
objectives that meet requirements for the General Competencies.

In an effort to aid residency programs in meeting these requirements for musculoskeletal

(MSK) radiology, the current authors, who comprise the Residency and Fellowship
Education Committee of the Society of Skeletal Radiology (SSR) 2005-2007, developed
this document. It is intended to provide a robust framework for a musculoskeletal
radiology curriculum at any residency in the United States, with the hope that it will be
inclusive but flexible enough to satisfy the ACGME’s requirements and suit any
particular residency with a minimum of alteration. This document draws heavily on the
rigorous efforts of the Education Committee of the Society of Thoracic Radiology (STR)
and their published curriculum for cardiothoracic radiology.3 The current authors
acknowledge that significant organizational elements and language have been directly
adopted and adapted from the STR document.

Several comments need to be made about the elements and structure of this curriculum.
Hopefully, these comments will help to ensure this document is flexible enough to fit the
needs of any residency program. There are several important requirements for MSK
radiology education that are not listed in this curriculum. For instance, didactic lectures
on musculoskeletal anatomy, physiology, pathology, and imaging should be part of any
diagnostic radiology residency program. Likewise, radiology residents must have access
to teaching files that have adequate examples of imaging of musculoskeletal pathology,
and periodic case conferences or reviews of teaching cases during the MSK rotation are
strongly encouraged. The ACGME guidelines also strongly suggest that residents attend
relevant interdepartmental conferences, such as correlation conferences with
Rheumatology, Orthopedics, and Sports Medicine, although this is not a strict
requirement. Also, this curriculum also does not specify specific resources that residents
on a musculoskeletal radiology rotation should read; each program will have their own
suggestions for these resources and should add those to this document.

Each technical objective in this curriculum is followed by one or more abbreviations.

These abbreviations denote the General Competencies that each objective addresses.

The rotations in this curriculum are expected to be 4-week or 1-month rotations. This
curriculum is broken down into three rotations because that is the minimum number of
months a resident should spend rotating in MSK. Certainly, many programs have more
than 3 MSK rotations; in that case, they may expand this curriculum to meet that need
and shuffle the knowledge and technical objectives among 4 or 5 rotations.

There are certain goals and objectives that are included in this curriculum that some
residencies may cover on other services. For example, bone biopsies may occur in the
vascular and interventional rotation, or spine imaging may lie completely within the
neuroradiology rotation. Thus, although programs are required to provide training in
these areas, they are free to delete these and other goals and objectives from the MSK
curriculum if those requirements are met on other rotations. Likewise, decisions about
which goals and objectives should fall in which rotation will vary widely from one
institution to another. As an example, joint aspirations may be an important resident call
duty at some facilities, in which case the program would prefer to teach residents joint
aspirations and injections in the first rotation instead of the second. Alternatively, some
residency programs may not expose their residents to sports medicine imaging until later
in the residency, so residents might not learn joint injections for MR arthrography until
the third rotation.

This document contains an appendix. That appendix is an MSK radiology curriculum

guide previously developed and published in 1999 by the SSR Residency and Fellowship
Education Committee and the Education Committee of the American Society of MSK
Radiology and then revised, though not published, by the 2003-05 SSR Education
Committee. That document serves as a larger list of knowledge based objectives for
radiology residents learning MSK radiology, and is the primary source of the knowledge
objectives in the current document. Certainly, residents should be able to master the vast
majority of topics covered in the appendix, but the curriculum below includes the
knowledge objectives deemed to be most important to the practice of musculoskeletal
radiology and those expected to be discussed extensively during MSK rotations.

This curriculum will be posted on the SSR website at www.skeletalrad.org in both pdf
and doc formats. The latter will allow easy editing for residency programs. Also, as the
SSR Residency and Fellowship Education Committee becomes aware of revisions that
are needed, they will be made to the online documents. Along those lines, the reader
should feel welcome to comment on the documents. Those comments should be directed
to the chair of the SSR Residency and Fellowship Education Committee.

Rotation 1
Goals
After completing the first four-week rotation in musculoskeletal radiology, the resident

• Demonstrate learning of knowledge based objectives and mastery of technical

will be able to:

• Generate accurate and concise radiographic reports

objectives for the first rotation

• Communicate effectively with patients, referring clinicians, technologists and

• Understand standard radiographic positioning and anatomy

supervisory staff

• Obtain essential patient information pertinent to the radiologic examination

• Demonstrate knowledge of clinical indications for radiography and indications for

• Demonstrate a responsible work ethic

urgent computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) examinations

• Participate in quality improvement/ quality assurance activities

• Participate in the education of students and interns

Objectives

• Knowledge based

o Demonstrate learning of normal radiographic and CT anatomy of the

axial and appendicular skeleton
o Demonstrate learning of normal MRI anatomy of the knee and shoulder
o Demonstrate learning of normal MRI anatomy of the cervical, thoracic,
and lumbar spine
 o Recognize and accurately describe common fractures and dislocations of
the appendicular skeleton
o Recognize and describe fractures and dislocations of the cervical, thoracic
and lumbar spine. Understand basic mechanisms of injury and distinguish
stable from unstable injuries
o Demonstrate learning of pathophysiology and radiology of fracture
healing and complications of healing such as delayed union, malunion and
nonunion
o Demonstrate learning of radiographic presentation and evaluation of
osteomyelitis and septic arthritis
o Recognize and describe complications of orthopedic devices including
fracture fixation and spine and arthroplasty hardware

• Technical

o Dictate clear, detailed, and accurate reports that include all pertinent
information as established in the American College of Radiology (ACR)
Guidelines for Communication4 (PBL, ICS)
o Use appropriate nomenclature when reporting radiographic, CT, MR or
ultrasound (US) findings of musculoskeletal disease (ICS)
o Communicate all unexpected or significant findings to the ordering
provider and document whom was called and the date and time of the
discussion in the report (ICS, PC, P)
o Obtain relevant patient history from electronic records, dictated reports,
the patient, or by communication with referring provider (PC)
o Recognize and describe positioning and anatomy of standard radiographic
examinations of the musculoskeletal system (MK)
o Effectively provide feedback to radiology technologists regarding quality
of exposure and patient positioning (ICS, SBP)
o Recognize when it is appropriate to obtain help from senior residents or
faculty when assisting referring clinicians (PC, P)
o Demonstrate responsible, ethical behavior; positive work habits; and
professional appearance; and adhere to principles of patient confidentiality
(P)
o Participate in discussions with faculty and staff regarding operational
challenges and potential system solutions regarding all aspects of
radiologic services and patient care (SBP)
Rotation 2
Goals

After completing the second four-week rotation in musculoskeletal radiology, the

• Demonstrate learning of knowledge based objectives and mastery of technical

resident will be able to:

• Continue to build and improve on skills developed during the first rotation
objectives for the second rotation

• Develop skills in protocoling and monitoring CT and MR examinations

• Demonstrate an understanding of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria5 and ACR
Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards for musculoskeletal imaging6
• Participate in the education of junior residents, interns, and medical students
• Perform image guided procedures

Objectives

• Knowledge Based

o Recognize and describe the radiographic presentation of Paget disease

o Demonstrate learning of a systematic approach to arthritis. Be able to
describe and differentiate salient radiologic (radiographic, CT and MR)
features of common arthropathies including osteoarthritis, inflammatory
arthropathy (rheumatoid, psoriatic, reactive, juvenile chronic, and septic),
crystal deposition diseases (calcium pyrophosphate deposition, gout,
hydroxyapatite deposition), neuropathic arthropathy, connective tissue
disease (systemic lupus erythematosis, scleroderma, dermatomyositis),
pigmented villonodular synovitis, and synovial chondromatosis
o Demonstrate a systematic assessment of a solitary lesion of bone and be
able to categorize the lesion as aggressive or nonaggressive. Develop an
appropriate differential diagnosis based on patient age, lesion location, and
lesion characteristics (margin, matrix, periosteal reaction, soft tissue
extension). Demonstrate knowledge of systematic, safe and cost effective
radiologic work-up of bone lesions including biopsy approach and
compartmental anatomy.
o Recognize and describe common locations of and radiologic
manifestations of osteonecrosis.
o Demonstrate knowledge of MRI safety issues including contraindication
to scanning and use of contrast.
o Demonstrate learning of the use of various pulse sequences and planes of
imaging used in MRI of musculoskeletal disorders
o Demonstrate learning of common knee and shoulder pathology on MRI
(meniscal tear, tendon and ligament injury, fracture, chondral disease,
rotator cuff tear, and labral pathology)
 o Demonstrate learning of common pathology of the cervical, thoracic, and
lumbar spine on MRI
o Demonstrate learning of the normal MRI anatomy of the hip and ankle

• Technical

o Build and improve on skills acquired during first rotation

o Demonstrate the ability to gather essential and accurate patient
information (electronic, personal communication) to appropriately
prescribe MRI protocols (PC, ICS)
o Provide effective and timely feedback and education to CT and MRI
technologists regarding quality of examinations (ICS, SBP)
o Demonstrate ability to monitor CT and MRI examinations to ensure the
patient is adequately evaluated (MK, PC)
o Demonstrate an understanding of indications, contraindications, needle
path, risks and post procedural management of CT and US guided
procedures including management of complications (MK, PC)
o Provide technical and educational guidance to junior residents and
students (ICS)
o Safely perform fluroscopically guided joint injections and aspirations with
faculty supervision (PC)
o Demonstrate an understanding of indications, contraindications, radiation
risks, and post procedural management of fluroscopically guided
procedures including management of complications (MK, PC)
o Demonstrate an ability to counsel a patient and obtain informed consent
before performing a procedure, including a description of the procedure,
risks, benefits, and alternatives; and solicit and respond to patient
questions without discrimination based on religious, ethnic, sexual,
economic, or educational differences (ICS, PC, P)
o Maintain a log of all procedures performed including complications (PBL)

Rotation 3
Goals
After completing the third four-week rotation in musculoskeletal radiology, the resident

• Demonstrate learning of knowledge based objectives and mastery of technical

will be able to:

• Continue to refine skills developed during the first two rotations

objectives for the third rotation

• Effectively use information technology to address clinical problems

• Participate in the education of junior residents and medical students
• Become a more independent provider of musculoskeletal radiologic interpretive

• Manage clinical and technical questions from technical and support staff
services
Objectives

• Knowledge based

o Recognize radiologic findings and describe pathophysiology of endocrine

disease including hyperparathyroidism, renal osteodystrophy,
osteomalacia/rickets, hypophosphatasia, hypophosphatemia
o Recognize radiologic findings of hematopoietic and storage diseases
including sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, mastocytosis, and Gaucher’s
disease.
o Demonstrate systematic approach to relatively common dysplasias and
congenital conditions such as achondroplasia, osteogenesis imperfecta,
osteopetrosis
o Demonstrate learning of common pathology of the hip and ankle on MRI
o Demonstrate learning of anatomy and common injuries/pathology of the
elbow and wrist on MRI

• Technical

o Improve and build on skills acquired during the first two rotations
o Demonstrate the ability to locate, appraise and assimilate evidence from
scientific studies related to the performance and interpretation of
musculoskeletal imaging (PBL)
o Demonstrate the ability to teach a junior colleague how to protocol
examinations and plan procedures (PC, ICS)
o Demonstrate the ability to assess and prioritize requests for add-on
procedures (PC)
o Demonstrate the ability to answer common procedural and policy
questions from technologists and support staff (PC, ICS)

References
1. Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Competencies Definitions and Practice
Performance Measurements for Diagnostic Radiology. Available online at
http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/RRC_420/420_compDefsPerfMeas.pdf. Accessed 9/01/06.
2. Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Program Requirements for Graduate
Medical Education in Diagnostic Radiology. Available online at
http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/downloads/RRC_progReq/420pr701_u705.pdf. Accessed
9/05/06
3. Collins J, Abbott GF, Holbert JM, et al. Revised Curriculum on Cardiothoracic Radiology for
Diagnostic Radiology Residency With Goals and Objectives Related to General Competencies.
Acad Radiol 2005; 12:210-223.
4. American College of Radiology. ACR Practice Guideline for Communication of Diagnostic
Imaging Findings. Available online at
http://www.acr.org/s_acr/bin.asp?CID=541&DID=12196&DOC=FILE.PDF. Accessed 9/06/06.
5. American College of Radiology. ACR Appropriateness Criteria: Expert Panel on Musculoskeletal
Imaging. Available online at http://www.acr.org/s_acr/sec.asp?CID=1206&DID=15047. Accessed
9/06/06.
6. American College of Radiology. ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards. Available
online at http://www.acr.org/s_acr/bin.asp?CID=1848&DID=14800&DOC=FILE.PDF. Accessed
9/06/06.
 Appendix

MUSCULOSKELETAL RADIOLOGY CURRICULUM GUIDE

Revised by the Residency and Fellowship Education Committee of the Society of

Skeletal Radiology, 2003-2005
Charles Resnik, M.D. (Chair), Carol Boles, M.D., Kirkland Davis, M.D.,
Thomas Learch, M.D., Nancy Major, M.D., Douglas Mintz, M.D.,
Carolyn Sofka, M.D., Michael Tuite, M.D.

Originally Developed by the Education Committee of the American Society of

Musculoskeletal Radiology and the Society of Skeletal Radiology,
1997-1998
Charles Resnik, M.D. (Co-chair), Arthur De Smet, M.D. (Co-chair),
Felix Chew, M.D., Mary Kathol, M.D., Mark Kransdorf, M.D.,
Lynne Steinbach, M.D.

INTRODUCTION

The following curriculum guide is a revision of the original document, published

1
in 1999 , comprising a list of subjects that are important to a thorough understanding of
disorders that affect the musculoskeletal system. It does not include every
musculoskeletal condition, nor is it intended to replace any textbooks, yet it is
comprehensive enough to fulfill three basic requirements: 1.) to provide practicing
radiologists with a guide to the fundamentals needed to be valuable consultants to
orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologists, and other referring physicians, 2.) to provide
radiology residency program directors with a guide to subjects that should be covered in a
four year teaching curriculum, and 3.) to serve as a “study guide” for diagnostic radiology
residents preparing for examination by the American Board of Radiology.
Some sections in this revision have been expanded, and some of the material
overlaps with that of other radiology subspecialties, particularly neuroradiology and
pediatric radiology. The division into “basic” and “advanced” categories has been
maintained, with advanced concepts indicated by an asterisk (*). Basic material includes
fundamental information that radiology residents should know, while advanced material
includes information that subspecialized musculoskeletal radiologists might expect to
master. It is acknowledged again that this division is somewhat arbitrary. It is the authors’
hope that these guidelines will serve as a self-sufficient resource or as a template for a
useful curriculum based on local teaching practices.
1
Academic Radiology 1999; 6:360-367

I. Aspects of Basic Science Related to the Musculoskeletal System

A. Histogenesis of developing bone
 1. Intramembranous ossification
2. Endochondral ossification
3. Remodeling
B. Bone anatomy
1. Cellular constituents
a. Osteoblasts
b. Osteoclasts
2. Non cellular constituents
a. Organic matrix
b. Inorganic matrix

II. Techniques Relevant to Musculoskeletal Radiology

A. Radiography
1. Routine views
2. Specialized views - Indications for obtaining specialized views
B. Computed tomography
C. Magnetic resonance imaging
D. Fluoroscopy
E. Ultrasonography
F. Densitometry
G. Nuclear scintigraphy
1. Indications
2. Choice of scintigraphic agent
H. Measurement and Evaluation Techniques
1. Scoliosis
2. Leg length
3. Lower extremity mechanical axis determination
4. Anteversion
5. Bone age determination
L. Interventional procedures
1. General considerations
a. Consent
b. Pre-procedure planning
2. Arthrography
a. Shoulder
b. Hip (including prosthesis evaluation)
c. Wrist *
d. Knee
e. Elbow*
f. Ankle*
3. Aspiration and injections
4. Percutaneous biopsy

III. Normal Features and Variants

A. Sequence of ossification
1. Elbow
 2. Other*
B. Physiologic radiolucencies
1. Pseudotumor humerus
2. Pseudocyst calcaneus
C. Vascular channels
1. Nutrient canal in phalanx or long bone cortex
2. Vertebral body
3. Scapula
4. Iliac bone
D. Normal sulci
1. Preauricular sulcus (paraglenoid fossa)
2. Rhomboid fossa
E. Supracondylar process
F. Dorsal defect of patella
G. Epiphyseal ossification from multiple centers - Bipartite patella
H. Irregular epiphyseal ossification
1. Femoral condyle
2. Femoral head*
3. Other*
I. Periosteal reaction of infancy
J. Physiologic bowing
K. Transverse (growth) line
L. Vacuum joint
M. Sesamoids and accessory ossicles
N. Accessory muscles*
O. Tug lesions
1. Cortical desmoid
2. Other*

IV. Congenital and Developmental Abnormalities of the Spine

A. Os odontoideum
B. Klippel-Feil
C. VACTERL association
D. Vertebral anomaly
1. Fusion
2. Segmentation
E. Spinal dysraphism
F. Diastematomyelia
G. Caudal regression syndrome
H. Schmorl node
I. Scheuermann disease
J. Limbus vertebra
K. Scoliosis

V. Congenital Anomalies and Dysplasias

A. Lower Extremity:
 1. Developmental dysplasia of the hip
2. Blount disease
3. Discoid meniscus
4. Foot deformities
a. Tarsal coalition
b. Talipes equinovarus (clubfoot)
c. Pes planus
d. Pes cavus
e. Metatarsus adductus varus
f. Vertical talus
g. Rocker-bottom foot
5. Syndactyly
6. Polydactyly
7. Congenital pseudoarthrosis*
8. Fibular hemimelia*
9. Proximal femoral focal deficiency*
B. Upper Extremity
1. Madelung deformity
2. Congenital dislocation of the radial head
3. Carpal coalition
4. Syndactyly
5. Polydactyly
6. Sprengel deformity
7. Radial clubhand*
8. Thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome (TAR)*
C. Trunk
1. Pectus excavatum
2. Pectus carinatum
3. Poland syndrome*
D. Diffuse or Multifocal Anomalies and Dysplasias
1. Achondroplasia
2. Osteogenesis imperfecta
3. Sclerosing osseous dysplasias
a. Osteopoikilosis
b. Melorheostosis
c. Osteopathia striata
d. Mixed sclerosing bone dystrophy
4. Osteopetrosis
5. Cleidocranial dysplasia (dysostosis)
6. Amniotic band syndrome
7. Pyknodysostosis
8. Syndromic connective tissue disorders
a. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
b. Marfan syndrome
9. Neurofibromatosis
10. Cerebral palsy
 11. Muscular dystrophies
12. Congenital insensitivity to pain
13. Mucopolysaccharidosis (general findings)
14. Tuberous sclerosis
15. Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
16. Turner syndrome
17. Advanced dysplasias*
a. Chondrodysplasia punctata (stippled epiphyses)
b. Diaphyseal dysplasia
c. Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica
d. Metaphyseal dysplasia
e. Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia
f. Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia
18. Advanced diffuse disease, other*
a. Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita
b. Endosteal hyperostosis
c. Fibrodysplasia (myositis) ossificans progressiva
d. Idiopathic osteolysis
e. Macrodystrophia lipomatosa
f. Pachydermoperiostosis
g. Thanatophoric dwarfism
h. Nail-patella syndrome
i. Chondroectodermal dysplasia

Note: the advanced items in these lists are only a representative sample of the entities one
may wish to investigate following the basic list. Decisions to include or exclude specific
maladies were made based on the authors’ experience, but the reader may need to be
familiar with other disease processes based on one’s patient population and practice.

VI. Infection
A. Basic concepts
1. Routes of spread
a. Hematogenous
b. Spread from a contiguous source
c. Direct implantation
2. Pre-disposing factors
B. Osteomyelitis
1. Sites of localization
a. Infants
b. Children
c. Adults
d. Intravenous drug users
2. Terminology
a. Sequestrum
b. Involucrum
c. Cloaca
 d. Brodie abscess
e. Sclerosing osteomyelitis
f. Multifocal
C. Septic arthritis
1. Bacterial
2. Tuberculous
3. Lyme disease
D. Soft Tissue
1. Abscess
2. Cellulitis
3. Myositis
4. Gas gangrene
5. Necrotizing fasciitis
E. Organisms
1. Bacterial
2. Tuberculous
3. Fungal
4. Syphilis
5. Rubella
6. Leprosy
7. Lyme disease
8. Bacillary angiomatosis
9. Parasitic infection
10. Hydatid disease
11. Cysticercosis

VII. Neoplasm/Tumor-like Conditions

A. General principles
1. Patient age
2. Description
a. Size
b. Location
c. Aggressiveness/growth pattern
d. Internal characteristics
e. Involvement of adjacent structures
f. Specific to bone lesions
(i) Margin (zone of transition)
(ii) Pattern of osteolysis
(iii) Periosteal reaction
(iv) Soft tissue mass
(v) Matrix/calcification
3. Biopsy planning/techniques
a. Compartment anatomy
b. Limb salvage approach
c. Specific site to biopsy
B. Osseous lesions (within bone)
1. Benign
a. Cartilaginous
(i) Enchondroma
(a) Multiple (Ollier disease)
(b) Maffucci syndrome
(ii) Osteochondroma - Multiple hereditary
exostoses
(iii) Chondromyxoid Fibroma
(iv) Chondroblastoma
(v) Chondroma - Periosteal (surface,
juxtacortical)
b. Fibrous
(i) Fibroxanthoma (non-ossifying fibroma)
(a) Fibrous cortical defect
(b) Benign fibrous histiocytoma
(ii) Fibrous dysplasia - McCune-Albright
(iii) Chondromyxoid fibroma
(iv) Desmoplastic fibroma
(v) Osteofibrous dysplasia (ossifying fibroma)*
c. Osteogenic
(i) Enostosis (bone island) - Multiple
(ii) Osteoma - Multiple
(iii) Osteoid osteoma
(iv) Osteoblastoma
d. Lipoid
(i) Lipoma
(ii) Liposclerosing myxofibrous tumor
(LSMFT)*
e. Vascular
(i) Hemangioma - Multiple (Osler-Weber-
Rendu)
(ii) Hemophilic pseudotumor
(iii) Lymphangioma
(iv) Glomus tumor
(v) Hemangiopericytoma*
(vi) Gorham disease*
f. Other
(i) Unicameral bone cyst (simple bone cyst)
(ii) Aneurysmal bone cyst
(a) Primary
(b) Secondary
(ii) Giant cell tumor of bone
(iii) Langerhans cell histiocytosis (eosinophilic
granuloma)
(iv) Chordoma
(v) Intraosseous ganglion
 (vi) Reactive lesions
(a) Giant cell reparative granuloma
(b) Bizarre parosteal osseous
proliferation
(BPOP)*
(c) Epidermoid inclusion cyst
2. Malignant
a. Primary
(i) Cartilaginous - Chondrosarcoma
(a) Central
(b) Peripheral
(c) Dedifferentiated
(d) Mesenchymal
(e) Clear cell
(ii) Fibrous
(a) Fibrosarcoma
(b) Malignant fibrous histiocytoma
(iii) Osteogenic - Osteosarcoma
(a) Conventional
(b) Surface
- Periosteal
- Parosteal
- High grade surface
(c) Telangiectatic
(d) Low grade central
(iv) Vascular
(a) Angiosarcoma
(b) Hemangioendothelioma
(v) Other
(a) Chordoma
(b) Multiple myeloma (plasmacytoma)
(c) Ewing sarcoma
(d) Primitive neuroectodermal tumor
(PNET)
(e) Adamantinoma
(f) Lymphoma
(g) Leukemia
(1) chloroma
b. Secondary
(i) Radiation
(ii) Paget disease
(iii) Metastatic
(a) Common primary tumors
(1) Blastic
(2) Lytic
(3) Aneurysmal/expansile
C. Extra-osseous/soft tissue lesions
1. Benign
a. Fibrous
(i) Fibroma
(ii) Fibromatosis
(iii) Desmoid
(iv) Elastofibroma
b. Neural
(i) Neurofibroma
(ii) Schwannoma
(iii) Neurofibromatosis
(iv) Neuroma
(v) Lipomatosis of nerve (fibrolipomatous
hamartoma)
(vi) Post-resection neuroma
(vii) Morton neuroma
c. Cartilaginous - soft tissue chondroma
d. Vascular
(i) Hemangioma
(ii) Hemangioendothelioma
(iii) Glomus tumor
(iv) Vascular malformations
(v) Lymphangioma
e. Lipoid
(i) Lipoma
(ii) Angiolipoma
(iii) Hibernoma
(iv) Lipoblastoma
f. Muscle
(i) Rhabdomyoma
(ii) Leiomyoma
g. Dermal/subcutaneous
(i) Sebaceous cyst
(ii) Dermatofibroma
(iii) Granuloma annulare
(iv) Granular cell tumor*
h. Other
(i) Myxoma
(ii) Giant cell tumor of tendon sheath
(iii) Pigmented villonodular synovitis
(iv) Ganglion
2. Malignant
a. Primary
(i) Fibrosarcoma
(ii) Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (high-grade
undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma)
 (iii) Synovial sarcoma
(iv) Rhabdomyosarcoma
(v) Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor
(vi) Epithelioid sarcoma*
(vii) Liposarcoma
(a) Myxoid
(b) Well-differentiated
(c) Dedifferentiated
(viii) Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans*
(ix) Alveolar soft part sarcoma*
(x) Myxofibrosarcoma*
(xi) Soft tissue osteosarcoma*
(xii) Kaposi sarcoma*
(xiii) Melanoma
b. Secondary
(i) Metastasis
(ii) Leukemia
(iii) Lymphoma
(iv) Soft tissue extension of bone lesions

VIII. Trauma (Including Sports Injuries)

A. General principles
1. Biomechanics of fractures
a. Relationship of force and deformation
b. Mechanisms of direct and indirect loading
c. Relevant anatomy and terminology
d. Fracture / injury patterns and associated injuries
e. Avulsion fracture locations
2. Fracture description
3. Stress injuries (bone and soft tissue)
a. Mechanisms
b. Pathophysiology
c. Epidemiology
d. Imaging diagnosis
e. Implications for treatment
4. Repetitive trauma
a. Tendinosis
b. Enthesophytes
c. Other
5. Soft tissue injuries
a. Grades of muscle tear
b. Grades of ligament tear
c. Myositis ossificans
6. Thermal trauma
a. Burns
b. Cold injury
 7. Open fractures
8. Treatment
a. Indications
b. Principles of treatment
c. Casting
d. Hardware - General types and uses
e. Complications- - Hardware failure
f. Bone grafting
9. Fracture healing
a. Pathophysiology
b. Biomechanics
c. Time course
10. Complications
a. Malunion
b. Nonunion
c. Premature physeal closure
d. Osteonecrosis
(i) Femoral head
(ii) Scaphoid proximal pole
(iii) Talar dome
e. Infection
f. Compartment syndrome
g. Arthritis
11. Foreign bodies
12. Gunshot wounds
13. Traumatic myonecrosis
B. Trauma in adults
1. Hand
a. Phalanx fracture / dislocation
(i) Intra vs. extra articular
(ii) Volar plate fracture
(iii) Tuft fracture
b. Metacarpal fracture
(i) Bennett vs. Rolando fracture
(ii) Boxer fracture
c. Carpometacarpal dislocation
d. Tendon injuries
e. Pulley injuries
f. Capsular and collateral ligament injuries
(i) Gamekeeper (skier) thumb
(ii) Metacarpophalangeal joint
2. Wrist
a. Colles fracture
b. Smith fracture
c. Radial styloid fracture
d. Isolated carpal bone fracture
 (i) Scaphoid fracture
(a) Significance of blood supply
(b) Osteonecrosis
(c) Non-union
(ii) Triquetral fracture
(iii) Hamate fracture
(iv) Other
e. Complex carpal bone injuries
(i) Perilunate dislocation
(ii) Lunate dislocation
f. Ligament tears
(i) Interosseous ligaments
(ii) Triangular fibrocartilage complex
(iii) Extrinsic ligaments
g. Chronic carpal instability
(i) Dorsal intercalated segment instability
(ii) Volar intercalated segment instability
(iii) Scapholunate advanced collapse
h. Distal radioulnar joint injury
i. Carpal tunnel syndrome
j. Ulnar impaction syndrome
3. Forearm
a. Galeazzi fracture/dislocation
b. Monteggia fracture/dislocation
c. Isolated ulna (nightstick) fracture
4. Elbow
a. Radial head fracture
b. Fracture/dislocation
c. Humeral condyle fractures
d. Extensor tendinosis (tennis elbow/lateral epicondylitis)
e. Flexor tendinosis (pitcher’s elbow/medial epicondylitis)
f. Ulnar collateral ligament tear
g. Radial collateral ligament tear
h. Biceps avulsion
i. Triceps avulsion
5. Shoulder and scapula
a. Anatomic vs. surgical neck humerus fracture
b. Greater tuberosity humerus fracture
c. Scapular fracture
(i) Body
(ii) Glenoid
d. Dislocation
(i) Anterior
(a) Hill Sachs fracture
(b) Bankart fracture
(c) Recurrence
 (ii) Posterior
(a) Reverse Bankart
(b) Neurovascular injuries
(iii) Other - scapulothoracic dissociation*
e. Rotator cuff tear
f. Labral injury
(i) Patterns of instability
(ii) SLAP tear
g. Proximal biceps tear or dislocation
h. Impingement syndrome
(i) Anterior
(ii) Posterior
(iii) Coracoid
i. Adhesive capsulitis
6. Clavicle and acromioclavicular joint
a. Grades of acromioclavicular joint separation
b. Clavicle fracture
c. Sternoclavicular fracture / dislocation
d. Post-traumatic osteolysis
7. Skull/face
a. Skull fracture
(i) Base of skull
(ii) Temporal bone
(iii) Sinus fracture
b. Facial bone fracture
(i) Orbit fracture
(a) Blow-out fracture
(b) Blow-in fracture
(c) Rim fracture
(d) Floor fracture
(e) Medial wall fracture
(i) Zygomaticomaxillary fracture
(ii) Complex (LeFort classification)
(iii) Mandible fracture
(iv) Nasal bone fracture
8. Thoracic cage
9. Spine
a. Mechanism of injury
(i) Flexion
(ii) Extension
(iii) Axial load/burst
(iv) Distraction
(v) Translation
b. Fracture/ligament injury patterns
c. Column concept/stability
(i) Cervical
 (ii) Thoracic
(iii) Lumbar
(iv) Sacrum/coccyx
d. Associated neurologic injury
e. Acute disc herniation
10. Pelvis and hip
a. Pelvic fracture patterns
(i) Lateral compression
(ii) Anterior-posterior compression
(iii) Vertical shear
(iv) Complex
b. Acetabular fracture - fracture patterns
c. Hip dislocation - risk of osteonecrosis
d. Femoral neck fracture
e. Intertrochanteric fracture
f. Femoral head fracture
g. Labral injury
11. Femur fracture
12. Knee
a. Femoral condyle fracture
b. Tibial plateau fracture
c. Patella fracture
d. Knee dislocation
e. Patella dislocation
f. Meniscal injury
(i) Bucket handle tear
(ii) Parrot-beak tear
(iii) Horizontal oblique tear
(iv) Horizontal cleavage tear
(v) Vertical longitudinal tear
(vi) Radial tear
(vii) Complex tear
(viii) Root tear
(ix) Meniscocapsular separation
(x) Fraying and degeneration
(xi) Displaced fragments
(xii) Meniscal cyst
g. Ligament injury
(i) Anterior cruciate
(ii) Posterior cruciate
(iii) Medial collateral
(iv) Lateral collateral
h. Extensor mechanism injury
(i) Quadriceps tear
(ii) Patellar tendon (ligament) tear
(iii) Retinaculum injury
 i. Posterolateral corner injury
(i) Popliteus muscle/tendon
(ii) Arcuate ligament*
(iii) Popliteofibular ligament*
(iv) Fabellofibular ligament*
j. Articular cartilage injury
k. Overuse injuries
(i) Plica syndrome
(ii) Iliotibial band friction syndrome
(iii) Pes anserine bursitis
13. Ankle
a. Mechanisms of injury
b. Pilon fracture
c. Tilleaux fracture
d. Maisonneuve fracture
e. Ligament injury
(i) Anterior talofibular ligament
(ii) Deltoid ligament
(iii) Syndesmotic/anterior tibiofibular ligament
f. Talar fracture
(i) Dome fracture
(ii) Neck fracture
(iii) Lateral process fracture
14. Foot
a. Calcaneal fracture - anterior process fracture
b. Fifth metatarsal base fracture
c. Metatarsal fracture
d. Lisfranc fracture/dislocation
e. Phalanx fracture
f. Cuboid fracture
g. Navicular fracture
C. Trauma in children (unique features)
1. Biomechanics of the immature skeleton
2. Growth plate injuries
3. Hand, wrist, and forearm
a. Torus fracture
b. Greenstick fracture
c. Plastic bowing
4. Elbow
a. Radial head subluxation/dislocation
b. Supracondylar fracture
c. Entrapped epicondyle
d. Little leaguer elbow
5. Shoulder - little leaguer shoulder
6. Spine - spondylolysis
7. Hip - slipped capital femoral epiphysis
 8. Knee - osteochondritis dissecans
9. Tibia, ankle, and foot
a. Toddler fracture
b. Triplane fracture
c. Juvenile Tilleaux fracture
l0. Battered child
a. Reporting statutes
b. Metaphyseal corner fracture
c. Fracture location and patterns

IX. Metabolic, Systemic, and Hematologic Disorders

A. Bone physiology
1. Mineralization of bone
2. Calcium homeostasis
3. Bone resorption
4. Bone formation
5. Humoral regulation
a. Parathyroid hormone
b. Calcitonin
c. Vitamin D
B. Osteoporosis
1. Disuse
2. Related to aging (postmenopausal, senile)
3. Bone marrow edema (transient, migratory)
4. Complex regional pain syndrome/reflex sympathetic dystrophy
5. Drug induced
a. Steroid
b. Other
6. Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis *
C. Hyperparathyroidism
1. Subperiosteal resorption, acroosteolysis
2. Brown tumor (primary)
D. Rickets and osteomalacia
1. Vitamin D dependent
2. Vitamin D resistant
3. Dietary
4. Gastrointestinal malabsorption
a. Liver disease
b. Anticonvulsant therapy
5. Tumor induced
E. Renal osteodystrophy
1. Secondary hyperparathyroidism
2. Osteomalacia
3. Osteosclerosis
4. Tumoral calcinosis
F. Systemic and congenital muscular disorders
 1. Muscular dystrophy
2. Cerebral palsy
3. Other*
G. Pituitary disorder
1. Gigantism
2. Acromegaly
H. Thyroid disorder
1. Hypothyroidism (cretinism) *
2. Hyperthyroidism *
3. Thyroid acropachy *
I. Intoxication, poisoning
1. Heavy metal (lead)
2. Fluorine
3. Hypervitaminosis A
4. Hypervitaminosis D
J. Bone infarction
1. Causes
2. Osteonecrosis (AVN: end of bones) vs. medullary infarction
(shaft)
3. Spontaneous at specific sites:
a. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
b. Other *
K. Hematologic disorders
1. Anemia
a. Sickle cell
b. Thalassemia
c. Other *
2. Hemophilia
3. Idiopathic myelofibrosis
4. Marrow reconversion
5. Extramedullary hematopoiesis *
L. Multifocal soft tissue calcification
1. Calcification/ossification/periosteal reaction secondary to venous
stasis
2. Calcification/ossification secondary to paraplegia
3. Milk-alkali syndrome
M. Multifocal periosteal reaction
1. Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy
a. Primary (pachydermoperiostosis)
b. Secondary (pulmonary, non-pulmonary)
2. Infantile cortical hyperostosis (Caffey disease)
3. Prostaglandin
N. Miscellaneous
1. Paget disease
2. Amyloidosis
3. Effect of pregnancy
 4. Sarcoidosis
5. Radiation induced marrow changes
6. Scurvy *
7. Hypophosphatasia *
8. Mastocytosis *
9. Lipid storage diseases
a. Gaucher
b. Xanthoma
X. Joint Disorders
A. Normal anatomy
l. Types of joints
a. Fibrous
b. Cartilaginous
c. Synovial
2. Intervertebral discs
3. Entheses
B. General features
1. Distribution of involvement
2. Soft tissue changes
3. Joint space width
4. Bone density
5. Osteophytes
6. Subchondral cysts
7. Osseous erosions
8. Proliferative new bone
9. Joint deformity
10. Calcification
C. Specific diseases
1. Osteoarthritis
a. Primary
b. Secondary
c. Erosive (inflammatory)
2. Inflammatory joint diseases
a. Rheumatoid arthritis
b. Psoriatic arthritis
c. Reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome)
d. Ankylosing spondylitis
e. Enteropathic spondyloarthropathy
f. Juvenile chronic arthritis
g. SAPHO*
3. Connective tissue diseases
a. Systemic lupus erythematosus
b. Scleroderma
c. Dermatomyositis and polymyositis
4. Crystal-associated arthropathies
a. Gout
 b. Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition
disease
c. Calcium hydroxyapatite deposition disease
5. Neuropathic osteoarthropathy
a. Diabetes mellitus
b. Syringomyelia
c. Other*
6. Miscellaneous
a. Hemochromatosis
b. Alkaptonuria (ochronosis)
c. Hemophilic arthropathy
d. Pigmented villonodular synovitis
e. Synovial chondromatosis
f. Osteitis condensans ilii
g. Degenerative disc disease
h. Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis
i. Jaccoud arthropathy*
j. Arthropathy associated with acquired immune deficiency
syndrome*
k. Lipoma arborescens
l. Tumoral calcinosis