Keywords:
Musculoskeletal joint, CT, Experimental, Diagnostic procedure, Trauma
Authors:
J. C. Hellund, �. T. Øverbø, K. Bjørklund, S. Tyrdal, A. C. Martinsen; Oslo/NO
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-1562
Conclusion
Timing is essential during a 4D scan,
since the movement might last several seconds.
A dedicated radiographer is mandatory,
ensuring that the patient is placed in such a position that the desired joint movement is possible.
A scan time of several seconds is necessary,
but the radiation dose is not much different for a conventional CT of an elbow.
This is since image quality is accepted to be of somewhat lesser quality than on a conventional elbow CT,
since the purpose is to identify where the bony collision(s) occur.
The examination must be evaluated at the CT workstation,
and selected images and 4D volumes should then be exported to the PACS system.
4D CT proved in this case to help the orthopaedic surgeon in planning and performing the proper open arthrolysis,
improving patient’s quality of life.
We thus believe this method to be a novel feature in the diagnostic imaging of a joint,
but more studies are mandatory to evaluate elbow 4D CT further.