Sunday, November 30 | 1:30 p.m.-1:40 p.m. | S4-SSMK01-4 | Room E451B
In this scientific session on musculoskeletal imaging, recommendations for the use of x-ray exams in 12 potentially low-yield anatomic sites will be presented.
The recommendations were drawn from a diverse group of experts from 21 academic centers, with developers suggesting the guidance can reduce unnecessary exams, radiation exposure, and costs.
According to presenter Eddy Zandee van Rilland, MD, of Stanford Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, researchers conducted a three-round Delphi consensus study that included 16 radiologists; nine emergency medicine (EM) physicians; four orthopedic surgeons; and five ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeons who reviewed imaging practices for the following sites: ribs and scapula, sacrum and coccyx, sternum and sternoclavicular joint, nasal bone and mandible, facial bone and sinus, and skull and neck soft tissue.
In Round 1, the radiologists and EM physicians answered seven questions for each of the 12 sites, generating 2,100 responses. The ENT surgeons answered questions for the six “ENT” sites, generating 210 responses, and the orthopedic surgeons answered questions for the six “orthopedic” sites, generating 168 responses. In Round 2, six multidisciplinary teams reviewed the literature for appropriate use and drafted 58 consensus statements. All participants then voted on the statements, with a consensus reached on 57. In Round 3, all statements achieved consensus, defined as 80% agreement among the experts.
Ultimately, expert consensus recommendations developed through such a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional deliberative process may improve the quality of care, the group noted.
So, what exactly are the recommendations? Attend this session to learn all the details.