Scaphoid views: a need for standardisation.
OBJECTIVE
Several views are needed to visualise the scaphoid. These are routinely called 'scaphoid views'. The authors believe that asking for scaphoid views from the radiology department often leads to a wide variety and number of radiographic views being taken.


METHODS
50 radiographers were asked which and how many views of the scaphoid they would take, in the acute setting and then in the out-patient department.


RESULTS
We found a wide variation in the descriptive terms used by radiographers for particular views. There was also little agreement on how many and which radiographic views to take when asked for 'scaphoid views'.


CONCLUSIONS
Not only is there complete lack of agreement on what 'scaphoid views' should be, it was also discovered that there was little agreement on the nomenclature of the individual views themselves. Loss of information can result from the wrong views being taken and unnecessary radiation exposure. We recommend five particular views, which together visualise all areas of the scaphoid.
Malik
A K
AK
Orthopaedic Department, King's College Hospital, London, UK. akmalik100@hotmail.com
Shetty
A A
AA
Targett
C
C
Compson
J P
JP
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D011871:Radiology / Q000592:standards*; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital; D012015:Reference Standards; D021361:Scaphoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*