A comparative study about ionizing radiation emitted during radiological "skyline" view of the wrist in pronation versus supination.

The dorsal tangential view to the distal radius or "skyline," used to control the length of the screws for the ORIF with volar plates, is carried out in supination (fluoroscope vertical) or in pronation (fluoroscope horizontal). The purpose of this study was to compare the dose of ionizing radiation emitted during a "skyline" view in supination versus pronation. A "skyline" was performed on 14 fresh cadaveric wrists. In group 1, the fluoroscope was positioned vertically and the wrist was held in supination. In group 2, the fluoroscope was positioned horizontally and the wrist held in pronation. The average dose of ionizing radiation was 0.9286 cGy/cm(2) (group 1) and 0.8751 cGy/cm(2) (group 2). The difference was not statistically significant. Overall, the emitted dose for the "skyline" is negligible compared to that of a standard wrist radiography with no difference between the vertical and horizontal positioning. Peroperatively, the vertical "skyline" seems easier to setup, less time consuming and less prone to asepsis faults.