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Jun 17 2011, 2:44 PM EDT (current) AndyC 2 words added, 2 words deleted
May 26 2011, 11:15 PM EDT AndyC 7 words added, 1 word deleted

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Radiographic Positioning


Adult
Other related pages of interest

Name of projection Wrist - Lateral
Area Covered Distal radius and ulna, carpals, mid metacarpal area
Pathology shown Fracture, dislocation, arthritis, foreign body
Radiographic Anatomy Wrist Radiographic Anatomy
IR Size & Orientation 24 x 30cm
Landscape, divided in thirds usually fits 3 projections, use lead masking for unused area
Film / Screen Combination Detail
(CR and DR as recommended by manufacturer)
Bucky / Grid No
Filter No
Exposure 53 kVp
4 mAs
FFD / SID 100cm
Central Ray Directed to the mid-carpal area
Perpendicular to the IR
Collimation Centre: Mid-carpal area
Shutter A: Half the metacarpals to one quarter of distal radius and ulna
Shutter B: Skin margin
Markers Distal and Lateral
Marker orientation AP
Shielding Gonadal (check your department's policy guidelines)
Respiration Not applicable
Positioning
  • Patient seated at end of table
  • Elbow flexed 90 degrees 90°
  • Abduct humerus so it is parallel with IR
  • Hand and wrist on IR
  • Hand and wrist in lateral position, with thumb up
Critique

 Positioning
  • The wrist in a lateral position demonstrated by:
    • Super-imposition of distal end of scaphoid and pisiform
    • Super-imposition of the radius and ulna
  • Long axis of first metacarpal is aligned parallel with forearm
  • Ulna styloid in profile posteriorly
  • Trapezium with no super-imposition of first metacarpal
Area Covered
  • Distal radius and ulna, carpals, mid metacarpal area
Collimation
  • Centre: Mid-carpal area
  • Shutter A: Half the metacarpals to one quarter of distal radius and ulna
  • Shutter B: Skin margin
Exposure
  • Bony trabecular patterns and cortical outlines are sharply defined
  • Soft tissues are visualised
  • Sufficient contrast and density to demonstrate posterior fat stripe
Special Notes