Scanning is cheap and easy

Scanning is one of the cheapest ways to capture images. Photographic prints and drawings or text comes to mind and arthroscopy prints are nicely converted to image files by a scanner.

However, a flatbed scanner can also be used to obtain acceptable Xray images - in most cases.

Cactus thorn in medial compartment of L knee

Using a scanner to obtain Xray images

The Xray film is laid on the flatbed scanner and a sheet of white paper is placed over it before closing the lid. The scan is made. The original image (left) is rather dark.

Using an image editing program the image is lightened up and converted to greyscale (monochrome).

An increase in contrast gives an acceptable image for many orthopaedic purposes. In this case the question of whether there were intra-articular loose bodies in the hip was settled by CT arthrography. The result below is also scanned using this technique. The result below left is the same image captured using a digital camera. The gas shadows surrounding the fragments can be seen better.

We are not trying to suggest that the result from scanning Xray films are equal in quality to the results from more elaborate systems. But if a scanner is all you have you can obtain acceptable images.