Abstract
Objectives: Care in radiography is intrinsically linked to patient radiation dose. Consequently, techniques used to improve malpositioned images should be reliable. Some radiographers use geometric unsharpness as a tool in determining axial relationships.¹ The aim of this study is to determine the difference in OID at which geometric unsharpness can be reliably detected. The results will determine the practicality of this tool in repositioning the condyles of a lateral knee.
Methods: Similar to a previous study by Haliczenko et al,¹ a series of X-ray acquisitions of an animal bone phantom at various distances from the image receptor will be conducted using direct radiography. These X-ray images will be collated to form a survey (using Survey Monkey). Radiographers (n = 40) will participate in the survey, aiming to determine how far apart bony structures need to be to visually detect differences in cortical unsharpness. This research study has been reviewed and waived for informed consent by the Flinders Medical Centre Institutional Ethics Committee.
Results: From our initial testing, findings suggest that the differences in unsharpness become noticeable in to 200-300 mm range. The experiment was repeated in August 2017 to test for reproducibility and inter- and intra-rater reliability. The final results were collected in September 2017 for analysis.
Discussion/Conclusion: The pilot study results suggest geometric unsharpness is an unreliable tool in determining the axial relationship of objects less than 200 mm apart, such as the profile of the medial and lateral femoral condyles.
Methods: Similar to a previous study by Haliczenko et al,¹ a series of X-ray acquisitions of an animal bone phantom at various distances from the image receptor will be conducted using direct radiography. These X-ray images will be collated to form a survey (using Survey Monkey). Radiographers (n = 40) will participate in the survey, aiming to determine how far apart bony structures need to be to visually detect differences in cortical unsharpness. This research study has been reviewed and waived for informed consent by the Flinders Medical Centre Institutional Ethics Committee.
Results: From our initial testing, findings suggest that the differences in unsharpness become noticeable in to 200-300 mm range. The experiment was repeated in August 2017 to test for reproducibility and inter- and intra-rater reliability. The final results were collected in September 2017 for analysis.
Discussion/Conclusion: The pilot study results suggest geometric unsharpness is an unreliable tool in determining the axial relationship of objects less than 200 mm apart, such as the profile of the medial and lateral femoral condyles.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 17-17 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences |
| Volume | 65 |
| Issue number | S1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2018 |