Table 3.

Common examples of Elective Orthopaedic radiological reporting information for surgeons.

Orthopaedic Pathology	Plain Radiographs (X-rays)	Ultrasound (USS)	CT	MRI
Degenerative joint disease e.g., Glenohumeral arthritis	Static joint subluxation. Humeral head centred or decentred on the glenoid. Reduction in the acromiohumeral distance?	Condition of the rotator cuff i.e., tears or attenuation.	-Measurement of glenoid version and inclination. --Condition of the glenoid vault and degree of glenoid bone loss.	In addition to the status of rotator cuff tendon, information on muscle bulk and fatty infiltration.
Chronic/Recurrent Instability e.g., patellofemoral instability.	Patella height and tilt. Presence of trochlear dysplasia. loose bodies.	Joint effusion. Extensor mechanism.	-Loose bodies. -Tibial Tuberosity – Trochlear Groove (TT-TG) distance.	-Osteochondral lesions. -Medial patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) tear.
Tendinopathy e.g., recalcitrant tennis elbow	Arthritis in the radio-capitellar joint. Presence of calcification or bony spurs over the lateral epicondyle.	Changes of tendinopathy and any tear in the common extensor origin.	Radio-capitellar joint arthritis.	Changes of tendon degeneration. Tear in the common extensor origin, condition of Lateral Ulnar Collateral ligament i.e., tears or attenuation. Presence of radio-capitellar plica.

Abbreviations: CT=Computerised Tomography; MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging.