title: Real-time digital contrast enhancement and magnification in the assessment of acute elbow injuries.
abstract: The elbow is a common site of injury and missed fractures may lead to disability and litigation. An assessment was made of a commercially available desk-top digital contrast enhancement and magnification unit (DETECT system) in a series of 320 patients with an acute elbow injury. Five radiologists of varying experience independently viewed elbow radiographs on a conventional light-box, and subsequently using the digitizer, indicating the presence or absence of a fracture. The overall results demonstrated no difference in performance when using the unit, though small improvements in the confidence with which a definite diagnosis was made were observed. Assessment of soft tissues with the digitizer was less reliable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Birmingham General Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wellings
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Tyrrell
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000092464:Elbow Injuries