Models by Rushay Amarath

Fractures tend to traverse bone in planes. While obvious in one orientation on plain film, the same fracture may be completely indiscernible at other angles. Seen here is a model of a triplane fracture of the left distal tibia, aptly named due to its involvement of all three major planes. On plain film, it is difficult to visualize all three fracture lines in one image, and using at least two views of the region of interest is crucial. Not catching the involvement of a third plane could lead to errors in describing the fracture. One may mistakenly identify the break as a Salter-Harris Type II or III, when indeed a triplane fracture is a Type IV, with involvement of the epiphysis, growth plate, and metaphysis.

The angle of the mandible is a structurally weak component of the lower jaw. This makes it one of the most susceptible regions for fracture. This model depicts a complete fracture of the right mandible at the angle, with posterior, inferior, and medial displacement of the distal fragment (blue) with respect to the right ramus (red).

Chronic superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction leads to progressive recruitment of thoracic venous collaterals and the azygos system. Seen here is a dilated and tortuous azygos, accessory hemiazygos, and hemiazygos venous network. Patients with engorged thoracic venous networks may develop systemic-to-pulmonary shunting across thoracic venous plexi.

This is a non-pathologic variant known as Type IIIB. In this variant, a right posterior hepatic duct communicates directly with the common bile duct. In planning for cholecystectomies in patients with IIIB variants, it is important to avoid mistaking the right posterior hepatic duct for the cystic duct. This model is status-post cholecystectomy.

In assessing an isolated cerebral angiogram of the right anterior cerebral artery (ACA) distribution (red), one can appreciate a paucity in distal perfusion territories. In a patient without stroke symptoms, one must question where blood supply to said territory originates. This model depicts a rare variant in anatomy known as the azygos ACA. In this variant, bilateral distal ACA territories of the brain are supplied by the one branching ACA (orange), with a single branch crossing midline to provide contralateral supply.