[Results with Garth's modified roentgen exposures]

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Orthopedics
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Shoulder instability often involves Hill-Sachs defects and Bankart lesions.
• Accurate radiological assessment is crucial for diagnosis and treatment planning.
• The apical oblique view is a modified projection for shoulder imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of the apical oblique view for demonstrating key shoulder pathologies.
• To assess the effectiveness of this view in post-operative follow-up for chronic shoulder instability.
• To determine its capability in detecting posterior shoulder dislocations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the apical oblique view of Garth, a modified anteroposterior projection.
• Applied the technique in a radiological follow-up of 56 patients post-Eden-Hybbinette-Lange operation.
• Assessed Hill-Sachs lesions and the fate of anteroinferior bone blocks.

Main Results:

• The apical oblique view clearly demonstrated the postero-lateral humeral head (Hill-Sachs defect) and antero-inferior glenoidal rim (Bankart lesion).
• It successfully detected posterior shoulder dislocations and provided an orthograde view of the glenohumeral joint.
• The view was effective for long-term assessment (10-23 years) of surgical outcomes in chronic shoulder instability.

Conclusions:

• The apical oblique view is a valuable tool for assessing specific shoulder pathologies and post-operative changes.
• Its ability to image the affected arm close to the body is advantageous in acute trauma.
• Consideration must be given to potential geometrical distortion and increased radiation exposure compared to standard AP views.