Usefulness of X-Rays in the Evaluation of Patients with Pains of the Upper Limb

Abstract

The conventional use of x-rays in radiodiagnosis is widelyobtainable in Nigeria. This study was intended, therefore todetermine the usefulness of x-rays to evaluate pains of theupper-limb in aspects of its contribution to diagnosis, cost,patient care and management and the views for detailedinformation. Adopting judgemental sampling, a nonprobabilitysampling, approach was used. A total of twohundred and forty seven (247) radiographs were handpickedusing the request forms and radiologist reports on theradiographs. The results obtained showed that the use of xraysto evaluate pain of the upper limb contributed 47.70% totherapeutic decision, cost, patient care and management.Oblique view had a positive outcome of 51.50% as againstposterior anterior and lateral views which had 27.14% and22.16% respectively. In comparison, computed tomography(CT) scans of 72 patients showed that 68.06% of the caseswere diagnosed as pain resulting trauma, spondylosis,ostemomyelitis and narrowing of disc spaces. The CT scanresult showed an improvement over conventional x-ray and anadded advantage to therapeutic decision making and patientcare/management. It was concluded that the use of otherimaging modalities in our hospitals should supplement the useof conventional x-rays on pains of the upper limb to removedoubt on therapeutic decisions in our health institutions