DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY IN PEDIATRIC ORTHOPEDICS - A PROSPECTIVE, CONTROLLED, AND RANDOMIZED TRIAL

A prospective, controlled, and randomized trial of digital radiography was conducted to evaluate its advantages in children. Matched pairs o f radiographs of the feet were taken in 20 children, and pelvic radiog raphs were taken in another 20 children. Each pair comprised a digital and conventional film. Half of the digital films were made with a 50% radiation dose reduction. The films were scored for quality. Statisti cally significant advantages were seen for the digital radiographs as compared with the conventional technique. Visualization of soft tissue and bony detail was enhanced in both foot and pelvic radiographs. Thi s was true even with a 50% dose reduction in many of the parameters sc ored. We conclude that digital radiography offers advantages over conv entional radiography, and recommend its use.