Direct digital radiography versus storage phosphor radiography in the detection of wrist fractures.
OBJECTIVE
To define the value of digital radiography with a clinical flat panel detector system for evaluation of wrist fractures in comparison with state of the art storage phosphor radiography.


METHODS
Hard copy images of 26 fractured wrist specimens were acquired with the same exposure dose on a state of the art storage phosphor radiography system and a clinical flat panel detector. Image features like cortical bone surface, trabecular bone, soft tissues and fracture delineation were independently analysed by 4 observers using a standardised protocol. Image quality ratings were evaluated with an analysis of variance (ANOVA).


RESULTS
Flat panel detector radiographs were rated superior with respect to cortical and trabecular bone representation as well as fracture evaluation, while storage phosphor radiographs produced better soft tissue detail.


CONCLUSIONS
In some of the observed image quality aspects, the performance of caesium iodide/amorphous silicon flat panel detector exceeds state of the art storage phosphor radiography. This makes it well suited for skeletal imaging particularly in trauma as seen in the detection of wrist fractures.
Peer
Siegfried
S
Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria. siegfried.peer@uibk.ac.at
Neitzel
Ulrich
U
Giacomuzzi
Salvatore M
SM
Pechlaner
Sigurd
S
Künzel
Karl Heinz
KH
Peer
Regina
R
Gassner
Eva
E
Steingruber
Iris
I
Gaber
O
O
Jaschke
Werner
W
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013679:Technology, Radiologic; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens