Radiographic diagnosis of ankle fractures: are three views necessary?
One hundred and twenty-three sets of emergency room ankle x-rays (anteroposterior lateral and mortise) were retrospectively reviewed to determine whether all three views were necessary to diagnose the presence of an ankle fracture. Four physicians (two orthopaedic surgeons, one musculoskeletal radiologist, and one emergency room physician) reviewed all randomly ordered sets of films twice--once with all three views and once with only the lateral and mortise views. The overall accuracy of two views was within the 95% expected threshold of accuracy using three views. The lateral and mortise views alone appear sufficient for ankle fracture diagnosis, and imply a substantial decrease in radiation and cost savings to the patient.
Vangsness
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Department of Orthopaedics, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
Carter
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Hunt
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Kerr
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Newton
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D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D009985:Orthopedics; D011859:Radiography; D011871:Radiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013628:Talus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries