Hip Joint

Abstract

The type of hip joint radiography is determined by the clinical indication. Table 18.1 shows indications and Table 18.2 contraindications for hip joint radiography. Image criteria as required for radiological findings in hip joint radiographs are listed in Table 18.3. In order to fulfil these image criteria, the field settings listed in Tables 18.4 and 18.5 should be achieved. These field settings go along with the patient preparation as listed in Table 18.6. Exposure parameter combinations for various age groups and patient diameters are listed in Tables 18.7, 18.8, and 18.9. The age groups in Table 18.8 refer to the standard age groups of the mathematical MIRD phantom family which has been used to calculate the normalized organ doses in this book. Table 18.9 shows radiation qualities (i.e. various combinations of tube voltage and total filtration) which may be applied in clinical practice. Please note that not all of these radiation qualities are recommended by the authors. The standard projections of hip joint radiographies of the patient who is correctly positioned are depicted in Figs. 18.1 and 18.2. Also the optimal field (marked in green), the suboptimal field (marked in red), and the correct shielding are shown. Tables 18.10, 18.11, 18.12, 18.13, and 18.14 outline the virtual field settings on the skin surface of mathematical MIRD phantoms of various age groups and the resulting virtual radiographies with and without bone structures, respectively. Normalized organ doses resulting from these virtual field settings have been calculated for all age groups and have been listed in Tables 18.13, 18.14, 18.15, 18.16, 18.17, 18.18, 18.19, 18.20, 18.21, 18.22, 18.23, 18.24, 18.25, 18.26, and 18.27. Light green shaded table cells refer to optimal field settings and pink shaded table cells refer to suboptimal field settings. Please note that normalized organ doses have been provided also for exposure parameter combinations, which are not recommended by the authors.