How to obtain a non-digital Full-length lower limb Radiographs using regular X-ray plates

INTRODUCTION Proper imaging with radiographs plays an important role in preoperative planning and also assessing postoperative radiographic results. One of the major aims of any kind of lower limb corrective surgery such as corrective osteotomy or total knee arthroplasty, is restoration of the mechanical axis of the limb [1]. To achieve this, one needs to be able to assess the existing axis, plan the degree of correction to achieve the desired limb alignment and also to verify whether the post operative alignment obtained was as planned and desired. All these require obtaining proper standing, full-length hip-to-ankle radiographs [2]. However, most centres, especially in developing countries, lack the facilities for obtaining such fulllength radiographs. Typically these full-length radiographs are obtained using a long cassette with an X-ray film of the appropriate length. The X-ray cassette has to be specially made to order, and is expensive because of the three screens that are needed inside. In addition, when a single long cassette is used, one has to use a graduated wedge in front of the x-ray tube, for attenuating the x-ray beam in the lower portion of the cassette to avoid overexposure. We describe here a simple and costeffective technique of obtaining full-length radiographs of the lower limb in a single exposure using 3 standard x-ray cassettes.