The Utilization of Movement in Joint Roentgenograms
Paul C. Colonna · Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica · 1962
I have a feeling of hesitancy in presenting such a subject before a group of clinicians and I hope you will forgive me choosing such a subject that will to many of you only be review of methods that you daily apply and fully appreciate.However, I have thought that by presenting an outline of this subject, it may stimulate all of us to pool our interests and review some new and some old diagnostic methods of requesting roentgenograms.Those of us that deal much in bone and joint work learn not only to appreciate the standard positions for roentgenograms but frequently have evolved practical methods in showing, by unusual methods, what we may clinically suspect-yet not demonstrate by routine positions.We will omit the technical difficulties involved by the trained roentgenologist for this is certainly outside the scope of an orthopaedic surgeon to discuss.I may say that we, as orthopaedic surgeons, only ask of our friends, the roentgenologists, to always produce excellent pictures in the minimum amount of time and without errors of interpretation !For some time now I have been impressed with the advantage of utilizing what has been called the functional test to increase our information regarding problems that arise from disabilities of the bones and joints.By this method we may graphically demonstrate ranges of normal and abnormal skeletal motion that can be produced and that may aid in the solutions of our problems.We are all aware of the value of utilizing tissue movement, for this is accomplished daily in the use of the fluoroscope for cardiac and G.I. problems.In the osseous system, however, the general conception of a rigid, bony framework has often caused us to overlook valuable data that can be elicited from filming the joints if we utilize movement.In pathological states involving the bones and joints there are a