Finger - Oblique

Radiographic Positioning

Adult

Other related pages of interest Applied Radiography Radiographic Anatomy Radiographic Protocols

Name of projection	Finger - Oblique
Area Covered	Phalanges of affected digit and distal half of adjoining metacarpal
Pathology shown	Fracture, dislocation, foreign body, infection, tumour, arthritis
Radiographic Anatomy	Hand Radiographic Anatomy
IR Size & Orientation	18 x 24cm Landscape, divided for multiple finger images, use lead masking for unused area
Film / Screen Combination	Detail (CR and DR as recommended by manufacturer)
Bucky / Grid	No
Filter	No
Exposure	50 kVp 2 mAs
FFD / SID	100cm
Central Ray	Directed to the proximal interphalangeal joint of affected digit Perpendicular to the IR
Collimation	Centre: Proximal interphalangeal joint Shutter A: To include distal phalanx to half the adjoining metacarpal Shutter B: To include soft tissue
Markers	Distal and Lateral Marker orientation AP
Shielding	Gonadal (check your department's policy guidelines)
Respiration	Not applicable
Positioning	Seat patient at end of table Forearm on table Hand pronated Rotate hand 45° laterally For 2nd digit can rotate medially to bring digit closer to IR Support with sponge Separate digits Digit of interest parallel to IR to open interphalangeal joint
Critique PACEMAN	Positioning Entire digit at a 45° angle, including the distal portion of the adjoining metacarpal, shown by There is twice as much soft tissue width on the raised side There is greater concavity on the mid-shaft of the phalanx on the raised side No soft tissue overlap from adjacent digits No super-imposition of the proximal phalanx and the metacarpophalangeal joint Metacarpophalangeal joint space and interphalngeal joint spaces are open Long axis of digit is aligned with the long axis of the IR Phalanges are not foreshortened Area Covered Distal, middle and proximal phalanges and half the adjoining metacarpal Collimation From the distal phalanx to half the adjoining metacarpal and the soft tissues Exposure Bony trabecular patterns and cortical margins are sharply defined Soft tissues are visualised
Special Notes