title: Low-dose biplanar radiography can be used in children and adolescents to accurately assess femoral and tibial torsion and greatly reduce irradiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate in children the agreement between femoral and tibial torsion measurements obtained with low-dose biplanar radiography (LDBR) and CT, and to study dose reduction ratio between these two techniques both in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty children with lower limb torsion abnormalities were included in a prospective study. Biplanar radiographs and CTs were performed for measurements of lower limb torsion on each patient. Values were compared using Bland-Altman plots. Interreader and intrareader agreements were evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficients. Comparative dosimetric study was performed using an ionization chamber in a tissue-equivalent phantom, and with thermoluminescent dosimeters in 5 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average differences between CT and LDBR measurements were -0.1° ±1.1 for femoral torsion and -0.7° ±1.4 for tibial torsion. Interreader agreement for LDBR measurements was very good for both femoral torsion (FT) (0.81) and tibial torsion (TT) (0.87). Intrareader agreement was excellent for FT (0.97) and TT (0.89). The ratio between CT scan dose and LDBR dose was 22 in vitro (absorbed dose) and 32 in vivo (skin dose).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower limb torsion measurements obtained with LDBR are comparable to CT measurements in children and adolescents, with a considerably reduced radiation dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • LDBR and CT lower-limb torsion measurements are comparable in children and adolescents. • LDBR considerably reduced radiation dose necessary for lower-limb torsion measurements. • LDBR can be used for evaluation of lower limb-torsion in orthopaediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, CHU Toulouse Purpan, Place du Docteur Baylac, TSA 40031, 31059, Toulouse Cedex 9, France, olivier.meyrignac@me.com.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Meyrignac
authors.forename: Ramiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baunin
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vial
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Accadbled
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sommet
authors.forename: Jérome Sales
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: de Gauzy
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014102:Torsion Abnormality / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*