{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,25]],"date-time":"2026-04-25T13:08:26Z","timestamp":1777122506895,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,5]],"date-time":"2025-01-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1736035200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Taiwan\u2019s National Tsing Hua University","award":["113QF013E1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["113QF013E1"]}]},{"name":"Taiwan\u2019s National Tsing Hua University","award":["HAFGH_D 112011"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["HAFGH_D 112011"]}]},{"name":"Taiwan\u2019s National Tsing Hua University","award":["TSGH-D-112112"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["TSGH-D-112112"]}]},{"name":"Taiwan\u2019s National Tsing Hua University","award":["TSGH-D-111107"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["TSGH-D-111107"]}]},{"name":"Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital","award":["113QF013E1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["113QF013E1"]}]},{"name":"Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital","award":["HAFGH_D 112011"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["HAFGH_D 112011"]}]},{"name":"Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital","award":["TSGH-D-112112"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["TSGH-D-112112"]}]},{"name":"Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital","award":["TSGH-D-111107"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["TSGH-D-111107"]}]},{"name":"Tri-Service General Hospital","award":["113QF013E1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["113QF013E1"]}]},{"name":"Tri-Service General Hospital","award":["HAFGH_D 112011"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["HAFGH_D 112011"]}]},{"name":"Tri-Service General Hospital","award":["TSGH-D-112112"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["TSGH-D-112112"]}]},{"name":"Tri-Service General Hospital","award":["TSGH-D-111107"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["TSGH-D-111107"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JFMK"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objective: Pars fractures are a common cause of lower back pain, especially among young individuals. Although computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning are commonly used in developed regions, traditional radiography remains the main diagnostic method in many developing countries. This study assessed whether the standard radiographic angles suggested in textbooks are optimal for an Asian population since Asian groups have lower lumbar lordosis. This study found a 35\u00b0 angle to be the most effective angle for lumbar oblique X-ray imaging. Additionally, the potential for a customized positioning auxiliary device was examined to improve image quality and reduce patient discomfort in cost-sensitive healthcare settings like Taiwan\u2019s single-payer system. Methods: A total of 100 participants underwent lumbar oblique radiography using a specially designed footboard with angle markings. Radiologists evaluated 600 images based on waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index to identify the optimal angulation for various body types. Results: For individuals with a WHR of 0.85, a 35\u00b0 angle provided superior image quality, while 45\u00b0 was more effective for slimmer patients. This optimized approach indicates the cost-effectiveness and diagnostic value of traditional X-ray imaging. Conclusions: The 35\u00b0 angulation standardizes lumbar X-ray imaging for an Asian cohort, reducing repeat scans and improving accuracy. Using a positioning device further enhances image quality and patient comfort, supporting the clinical utility of traditional radiography in resource-limited environments.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jfmk10010023","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,6]],"date-time":"2025-01-06T06:43:04Z","timestamp":1736145784000},"page":"23","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Evaluation of Optimized Lumbar Oblique X-Ray Angles with Positioning Assistance for Enhanced Imaging Quality: A Pilot Study in an Asian Cohort"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3484-161X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yu-Li","family":"Wang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Surgery, Hualien Armed Force General Hospital, Hualien 971, Taiwan"},{"name":"International Intercollegiate Ph.D. Program, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hsin-Yueeh","family":"Su","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Hualien Armed Force General Hospital, Hualien 971, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8644-1960","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chao-Min","family":"Cheng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2390-5796","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kuei-Chen","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"683","DOI":"10.1007\/s00256-010-0942-0","article-title":"Lumbar Spondylolysis: A Review","volume":"40","author":"Leone","year":"2011","journal-title":"Skeletal Radiol."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"656","article-title":"Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis","volume":"90","author":"Hu","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. 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