POSITIONING AID SOLVES THE REPRODUCIBILITY PROBLEM DURING OBLIQUE HAND RADIOGRAPHY - A CHEAP AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTION

Objective. A commercially available positioning device was evaluated t o assess whether standardized positioning of hand radiographs for the pronated oblique view was facilitated. Design and subjects, One hundre d hands of volunteers were radiographed in postero-anterior, antero-po sterior and pronated oblique projections, with and without use of the positioning device, and with and without application of a plaster cast . Results. The variation in pronation angle in the uncovered hand was 6 degrees with, and 24 degrees without the positioning device. Use of the device diminished intra- and inter-positioning variation by 14 deg rees and 18 degrees respectively. A plaster cast led to a variation of up to 26 degrees, despite use of the device. Conclusions. Use of the positioning device improved consistency for the pronated oblique radio graph. There was no improvement with a cast on the forearm.