title: [Efficacy of gonadal shielding in pediatric pelvis X-rays].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of using gonadal shielding in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between October 2011 and February 2012, 1137 pelvic X-rays of 675 consecutive patients (323 boys, 352 girls; mean age 6.8 years; range 6 month to 17 years) in our hospital were evaluated in terms of gonadal shielding use by a team including an orthopedist, a gynecologist and a pediatrician.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gonadal shields were used in 566 (49.8%) pelvic X-rays of 1137 patients and important anatomical landmarks were left open in 506 (44.5%) of them. In 104 (9.1%) X-rays, the shields were placed in correct position. It was observed that a total of 293 (25.7%) X-rays were partially protective, while 109 (9.6%) X-rays were placed in a totally wrong position. Nineteen X-rays (3.3%) were repeated due to malposition of the gonadal shielding. In X-rays of boys, gonadal shields were used for 193 (17%); however only 74 (6.5%) of them were placed in correct position. In X-rays of girls, gonadal shields were used for 373 (32.8%); however only 30 (2.6%) of them were protective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If we take into consideration that use of pelvic X-rays is essential and indispensable for the diagnosis of many pediatric pelvic diseases, we believe that technicians who are responsible for taking these X-rays should be better trained on the use of gonadal shields and designs of gonadal shields should be improved.
authors.affiliation: Metin Sabancı Baltalimanı Kemik Hastalıkları Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye. sarper154@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sarper
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gürsu
authors.forename: Türkan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gürsu
authors.forename: Yalkın
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Çamurcu
authors.forename: Timur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yıldırım
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gürsu
authors.forename: Vedat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Şahin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010053:Ovary; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011482:Protective Devices; D011859:Radiography; D013737:Testis; D014421:Turkey