Template:Trauma of the lumbar spine - choice of modality
Choice of modality
- CT of the lumbar spine in trauma is generally the first choice.
- X-ray of fractures of the lumbar spine is recommended as the first choice in:
- Suspicion of a vertebral compression fracture alone, such as in an elderly patient with typical symptoms.
- Low clinical suspicion of a fracture in US guidelines,[1] but low dose CT is still arguably superior if the local department has protocols with up to only slightly larger radiation dose than X-ray.[2]
- In children, according to Australian guidelines,[3] but again, low dose CT is arguably superior if there are local low dose protocols.[2] CT or MRI is indicated in children if there are neurological signs.[3]
References
- ↑ USA:. ACR Appropriateness Criteria. American College of Radiology. Last review date: 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Alshamari, Muhammed; Geijer, Mats; Norrman, Eva; Lidén, Mats; Krauss, Wolfgang; Wilamowski, Franciszek; Geijer, Håkan (2015). "Low dose CT of the lumbar spine compared with radiography: a study on image quality with implications for clinical practice ". Acta Radiologica 57 (5): 602–611. doi:. ISSN 0284-1851.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Australia:. Radiology - Acute indications. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Retrieved on 2018-12-14.
