title: Reliability of measurements with digital radiographs--a myth.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of digital radiographs and hence their effectiveness in templating. The methodology involved a retrospective study of post operative radiographs of patients with hemiarthroplasty of the hip. Three observers made observations blinded to each other's measurements. A statistical analysis of the data highlights magnification varying from 6 to 31 percent. There is a statistically significant relationship between the size of the error (size measured on radiograph minus implant size, i.e. magnification) and the implant size (p = 0.005) but the percentage error (error/implant size x 100) is independent of implant size (p = 0.505). It is our impression that digital radiographs and templating on the digital radiographs should not be considered a precise process.
authors.affiliation: Hull Royal Infirmary, Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom. Varghese.bobin@gmail.com
authors.forename: Bobin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.forename: Nagarajan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muthukumar
authors.forename: Muthukumar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balasubramaniam
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scally
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement