Space - the unknown accessory

Air-gap radiography is a viable alternative to the grid as a method to control or reduce the amount of scatter radiation reaching the film. It also eliminates the use of cumbersome grids with the resulting advantage of eliminating the unsightly grid lines on the radiograph. Careful application of the art and science of air-gap technique will enhance the diagnostic quality of many routinely performed projections/positions while allowing the radiographer flexibility in performing these examinations. The practical applications of this technique are limited only by equipment and facilities. While this technique is not the ideal in controlling scatter and will not or should not replace the bucky, it is the best alternative to the bucky when it (the bucky) is not available for use, particularly in those examinations normally performed using a horizontal beam and a radiographic grid.