Clarity of language

The language proposed by Chaganti and colleagues for effective communication when using an image intensifier in the trauma theatre remains likely to cause confusion. They focus on using the names given to each movement of the image intensifier rather than communicating where the image needs to be centred and with what degree of obliquity. Radiologists and radiographers use the latter method with commands such as ‘centre up’, ‘centre down’, ‘centre left’, ‘centre right’, ‘centre on a particular structure’ to move the image intensifier towards a particular structure. The degree of obliquity is then communicated with commands such as ‘left anterior oblique’, ‘right anterior oblique’, ‘cran-iocaudal angulation’, ‘caudocranial angulation’. A typical command proposed by the authors might be ‘on the wheels toward the patients head, orbital with X-ray source 45 degrees towards the head’. With the language developed in the radiology department, the same command would be ‘centre up, 45 degrees craniocaudal angulation’. The command is short, unambiguous, and avoids the confusion when using the names of each individual image intensifier movement. In addition, the terms used will be familiar to all radiographers and easily learnt by trauma surgeons.