Chapter 7 Great Tips for Trauma and Mobile Radiography

Chapter 7 Great Tips for Trauma and Mobile Radiography

1. Trauma and Mobile Radiography

   • Trauma Radiography Priorities
     • Inclusion of pertinent anatomy
     • Accurate anatomical presentaion
     • Technical Quality

2. Alternatives when Grids Prevent Transverse Angles

   • Many procedures that are done with a grid can be done non grid with minimal scatter radiation
     • For average and small patients, non grid use one-third of the grid technique
   • Placing gridded IR plate crosswise allows for transverse angles to be used for adapting positions

3. Horizontal Beam Projections

   • When patient is recumbent horizontal beams are used, this can clip off the downside anatomy
     • This is caused by the edging on the CR cassette or DR panel and beam divergence
       • Building the patient up or dropping the IR behind the edge of the table are "quick fixes"
   • For cross table projections increasing the SID will help reduce the amount of divergent cutoff
     • For every 10inch change in SID you must adjust mAs by at least one-third
   • Recentering the x-ray beam lower will help reduce downside cut off from beam divergence

4. Compensating Angles for Trauma Cases

   • To achieve double-angle positions in a fixed radiographic room, bring a mobile x-ray unit into the room
   • Secondary "lateral" angles can be achieved by swiveling the patient on the table, or swiveling the gurney
   • Oblique projections can be obtained on patients lying on their side by using the upright Bucky and angling the beam vertically