Practice and Perception of Radiographers on the Positioning Techniques of Erect Lateral Cervical Spine Radiography in Non-trauma Adult Patients

Background: The visualization of the lower cervical spine (C-spine), including the C7-T1 junction on lateral radiograph is a challenge due to the overlapping of the shoulder girdle. Therefore, the radiographers have adapted different positioning strategies to overcome this challenge. This study exp...

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Main Authors: B.S. Weerakoon, I.G.N.N.K. Karunaratne, .M.W.S. Jayasundara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Knowledge E 2021-12-01
Series:Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences
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Online Access:https://knepublishing.com/index.php/SJMS/article/view/9949
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author B.S. Weerakoon
I.G.N.N.K. Karunaratne
.M.W.S. Jayasundara
author_facet B.S. Weerakoon
I.G.N.N.K. Karunaratne
.M.W.S. Jayasundara
author_sort B.S. Weerakoon
collection DOAJ
description Background: The visualization of the lower cervical spine (C-spine), including the C7-T1 junction on lateral radiograph is a challenge due to the overlapping of the shoulder girdle. Therefore, the radiographers have adapted different positioning strategies to overcome this challenge. This study explores the current practice and perception of radiographers on positioning techniques of erect lateral cervical spine radiography in non-trauma adult patients. Methods: This prospective study was conducted with a self-administered, structured questionnaire distributed among 50 radiographers working in four selected hospitals in Sri Lanka. Results: The radiographers used weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positioning techniques for the erect lateral C-spine radiography. Most of them employed the standing breath-holding technique for image acquisition with or without exertion. While 54% of the radiographers utilized two water-filled cans during the weight-bearing technique, 82% used holding arms back with the shoulders down and pulling as low as possible in the non-weight-bearing technique. In addition, 88% of the radiographers believed that the weight-bearing position could increase the visibility of the C-spine. Almost all the radiographers (100%) stated that correct positioning instruction could improve the visibility of the C-spine. Conclusion: Radiographers have mainly used two positioning techniques of weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing for erect lateral C-spine radiography for non-trauma adult patients. In addition, most radiographers had a positive attitude toward the weight-bearing technique in the evaluation of lateral C-spine. These results highlight the importance of conducting studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the weight-bearing technique in erect lateral C-spine radiography.
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spelling doaj-art-cd4496d842b7474f830b6e42ff09bb9b2025-01-21T11:43:28ZengKnowledge ESudan Journal of Medical Sciences1858-50512021-12-0116410.18502/sjms.v16i4.9949Practice and Perception of Radiographers on the Positioning Techniques of Erect Lateral Cervical Spine Radiography in Non-trauma Adult PatientsB.S. Weerakoon0I.G.N.N.K. Karunaratne1.M.W.S. Jayasundara2Department of Radiography & Radiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri LankaDepartment of Radiography & Radiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri LankaDepartment of Radiography & Radiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka Background: The visualization of the lower cervical spine (C-spine), including the C7-T1 junction on lateral radiograph is a challenge due to the overlapping of the shoulder girdle. Therefore, the radiographers have adapted different positioning strategies to overcome this challenge. This study explores the current practice and perception of radiographers on positioning techniques of erect lateral cervical spine radiography in non-trauma adult patients. Methods: This prospective study was conducted with a self-administered, structured questionnaire distributed among 50 radiographers working in four selected hospitals in Sri Lanka. Results: The radiographers used weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positioning techniques for the erect lateral C-spine radiography. Most of them employed the standing breath-holding technique for image acquisition with or without exertion. While 54% of the radiographers utilized two water-filled cans during the weight-bearing technique, 82% used holding arms back with the shoulders down and pulling as low as possible in the non-weight-bearing technique. In addition, 88% of the radiographers believed that the weight-bearing position could increase the visibility of the C-spine. Almost all the radiographers (100%) stated that correct positioning instruction could improve the visibility of the C-spine. Conclusion: Radiographers have mainly used two positioning techniques of weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing for erect lateral C-spine radiography for non-trauma adult patients. In addition, most radiographers had a positive attitude toward the weight-bearing technique in the evaluation of lateral C-spine. These results highlight the importance of conducting studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the weight-bearing technique in erect lateral C-spine radiography. https://knepublishing.com/index.php/SJMS/article/view/9949cervical spineerect lateral radiographypositioning techniquescurrent practicenon-trauma adult patients
spellingShingle B.S. Weerakoon
I.G.N.N.K. Karunaratne
.M.W.S. Jayasundara
Practice and Perception of Radiographers on the Positioning Techniques of Erect Lateral Cervical Spine Radiography in Non-trauma Adult Patients
Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences
cervical spine
erect lateral radiography
positioning techniques
current practice
non-trauma adult patients
title Practice and Perception of Radiographers on the Positioning Techniques of Erect Lateral Cervical Spine Radiography in Non-trauma Adult Patients
title_full Practice and Perception of Radiographers on the Positioning Techniques of Erect Lateral Cervical Spine Radiography in Non-trauma Adult Patients
title_fullStr Practice and Perception of Radiographers on the Positioning Techniques of Erect Lateral Cervical Spine Radiography in Non-trauma Adult Patients
title_full_unstemmed Practice and Perception of Radiographers on the Positioning Techniques of Erect Lateral Cervical Spine Radiography in Non-trauma Adult Patients
title_short Practice and Perception of Radiographers on the Positioning Techniques of Erect Lateral Cervical Spine Radiography in Non-trauma Adult Patients
title_sort practice and perception of radiographers on the positioning techniques of erect lateral cervical spine radiography in non trauma adult patients
topic cervical spine
erect lateral radiography
positioning techniques
current practice
non-trauma adult patients
url https://knepublishing.com/index.php/SJMS/article/view/9949
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