title: The use of ultra-low-dose CT scans for the evaluation of limb fractures: is the reduced effective dose using ct in orthopaedic injury (REDUCTION) protocol effective?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether an ultra-low-dose CT protocol can diagnose selected limb fractures as well as conventional CT (C-CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively studied 40 consecutive patients with a limb fracture in whom a CT scan was indicated. These were scanned using an ultra-low-dose CT Reduced Effective Dose Using Computed Tomography In Orthopaedic Injury (REDUCTION) protocol. Studies from 16 selected cases were compared with 16 C-CT scans matched for age, gender and type of fracture. Studies were assessed for diagnosis and image quality. Descriptive and reliability statistics were calculated. The total effective radiation dose for each scanned site was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean estimated effective dose (ED) for the REDUCTION protocol was 0.03 milliSieverts (mSv) and 0.43 mSv (p < 0.005) for C-CT. The sensitivity (Sn), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the REDUCTION protocol to detect fractures were 0.98, 0.89, 0.98 and 0.89 respectively when two occult fractures were excluded. Inter- and intra-observer reliability for diagnosis using the REDUCTION protocol (κ = 0.75, κ = 0.71) were similar to those of C-CT (κ = 0.85, κ = 0.82). Using the REDUCTION protocol, 3D CT reconstructions were equivalent in quality and diagnostic information to those generated by C-CT (κ = 0.87, κ = 0.94).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With a near 14-fold reduction in estimated ED compared with C-CT, the REDUCTION protocol reduces the amount of CT radiation substantially without significant diagnostic decay. It produces images that appear to be comparable with those of C-CT for evaluating fractures of the limbs. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1668-73.
authors.affiliation: NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, 301 East 17th Street, New York, 10003, USA.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Konda
authors.affiliation: Montefiore Medical Center, 111 E 210th St, Bronx, NY 10467, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Goch
authors.affiliation: NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, 550 First Avenue MSB 617, New York, 10016, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leucht
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christiano
authors.affiliation: NYU Langone Medical Center, 333 E 38th St, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gyftopoulos
authors.affiliation: Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, 8900 Van Wyck Expy, Jamaica, New York 11418, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yoeli
authors.affiliation: NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, 301 East 17th Street, New York, 10003, USA.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Egol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D064386:Ankle Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult; D000092464:Elbow Injuries
keywords: Computed tomography; Extremity; Fracture; Low dose