Lumbar - Lateral (Supine and Erect)
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Radiographic Positioning
| Adult | Other related pages of interest |
| Name of projection | Lumbar - (Lateral) Supine and Erect |
| Area Covered | T12 - Sacrum, intervertebral foramina L1 to L4, vertebral bodies, intervertebral joints, spinous processes, and L5 to S1 junction, entire sacrum may be visualised |
| Pathology shown | Supine and erect lateral views are used to detect lower lumbar instability - a cause of lower back pain, stability of fractures can also be assessed |
| Radiographic Anatomy | Lumbar Spine Radiographic Anatomy |
| IR Size & Orientation | 35 x 43 cm larger patient 30 x 35 cm smaller patient Portrait |
| Film / Screen Combination | Regular (CR and DR as recommended by manufacturer) |
| Bucky / Grid | Moving or Stationary Grid |
| Filter | No |
| Exposure | 80 kVp x 40 mAs or breathing technqiue 80 kVp x 40 mA with 2 seconds exposure time see lateral lumbar breathing technique |
| FFD / SID | 100 cm |
| Central Ray | CR perpendicular to long axis of spine Larger patient - centre to iliac crest (L4-5) Smaller patient - centre to L3 (lower costal margin) (4cm above iliac crest) |
| Collimation | Inferior to Superior - collimate to film size Lateral borders closely collimate (light field will appear small due to the patient being close to the X-ray tube) |
| Markers | Superior and Lateral Marker orientation AP |
| Shielding | Gonadal (check your department's policy guidelines) |
| Respiration | Suspend respiration on expiration or use breathing technique |
| Positioning | |
| Critique | Positioning |
| Special Notes |