This study was designed to provide percentages of radiographic detection of small glass foreign bodies and to compare the detection rates (sensitivity) of two-view postexoanterior and lateral with those of four view posteroanterior, lateral, and right and left obliques screening radiographs. Three sizes (0.5, 1.0 & 2.0mm max dimension) of beer bottle glass fragments were inserted into chicken legs and radiographed. Three staff radiologists reviewed the films independently. With two-view radiography, the 2.0, 1.0 and 0.5mm glass fragments exhibited 99%, 83%, and 61% average detection rates, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the size of the glass foreign body is often the limiting factor for radiographic detection and that 0.5-2.0mm fragments represent a "limited detection" size range.
