ABSTRACT
The orthopaedic surgeon should have a working knowledge of the various imaging modalities available as in addition to a detailed history and thorough examination, investigations in the form of imaging are often required to narrow down the differential or confirm the diagnosis. This chapter initially covers the effects of radiation exposure, and then details the commonly encountered imaging modalities. X-rays are a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation that possess a shorter wavelength than visible light. It is one of the most commonly used diagnostic tools in orthopaedics. In digital radiography (DR), the basic components required include digital receptors, an image processing system (Digital Image Management System [DIMS], Patient Archiving and Communications System [PACS]), storage system, display system and a communication system. Sir Godfrey Hounsfield was an engineer who began development of the computed tomography (CT) scanner in 1967. The source-detector combination measures parallel projections at that particular level in order to create a CT slice.
