POSTOPERATIVE RADIOGRAPHS OR THERMAL PRINTS AFTER INTERNAL-FIXATION OF FRACTURES - A STUDY OF DHS FIXATION OF HIP-FRACTURES

Immediate postoperative radiographs confirm the quality of reduction a nd fixation of fractures. This information is already available from t he image intensifier and can be saved as hard copy thermal prints. If thermal prints give the surgeon the necessary patient and clinical inf ormation then immediate postoperative radiography should not be requir ed. In this retrospective study of 20 hip fractures treated by dynamic hip screw (DHS) fixation, plain radiographs and thermal prints were c ompared for the patient and clinical information they contained. Therm al prints were found to be deficient in some areas but, nevertheless, can potentially replace postoperative radiographs in many orthopaedic procedures saving time, money and radiation exposure.