CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

The fat pad sign on elbow radiography suggests:

1. A fracture of one or more bones at the elbow

2. Severe ligament sprain

3. An infection in the joint

4. Soft tissue swelling only

The correct answer is: A fracture of one or more bones at the elbow

The fat pad sign on elbow radiography is indicative of underlying pathology, usually associated with trauma. When there is an effusion in the elbow joint, typically due to a fracture or other injury, the fat pads surrounding the joint become elevated or displaced, creating visible changes on the X-ray. This sign suggests that there is likely a fracture, even if the fracture is not clearly seen on the radiograph itself. Therefore, this phenomenon is most accurately associated with the possibility of one or more fractures occurring at the elbow. While severe ligament sprains, infections, or soft tissue swelling may lead to joint effusion, they do not specifically correlate with the appearance of the fat pad sign in the same way that a fracture does. Consequently, the presence of this sign is predominantly interpreted as a fracture until otherwise proven.