1088 THE JOURNAL OF BONE AND JOINT SURGERY Computed Tomography of

ABSTRACT: To demonstrate the potential impact of computed tomography on orthopaedics, a brief review was done of four generations of scanners and of one new development (assay of bone mineral in the spine) that is presently being researched. To assess the utility of the method in treating orthopaedic problems, the cases of 140 patients, including patients with congenital anomalies, tumors, infections, and traumatic lesions, were analyzed. In the majority of the patients the technique provided useful information, often unob-tamable with any other technique. Computed tomography is without doubt one of the foremost advances in medical technology, especially in the diagnosis of intracranial lesions although its applicability has extended to other lesions as well. Since the introduc