Postoperative radiographs or thermal prints after internal fixation of fractures? A study of DHS fixation of hip fractures.

Immediate postoperative radiographs confirm the quality of reduction and fixation of fractures. This information is already available from the image intensifier and can be saved as hard copy thermal prints. If thermal prints give the surgeon the necessary patient and clinical information them immediate postoperative radiography should not be required. In this retrospective study of 20 hip fractures treated by dynamic hip screw (DHS) fixation, plain radiographs and thermal prints were compared for the patient and clinical information they contained. Thermal prints were found to be deficient in some areas but, nevertheless, can potentially replace postoperative radiographs in many orthopaedic procedures saving time, money and radiation exposure.