Radiographic Anatomy of Extremities

Radiographic Anatomy of Extremities

Radiographic Anatomy of Extremities

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Shoulder & Proximal Humerus - Shoulder Showdown X-rays

  • Key Bones & Landmarks:
    • Clavicle
    • Scapula: Glenoid, Coracoid, Acromion
    • Proximal Humerus: Head, Anatomical/Surgical Necks, Greater/Lesser Tuberosities
  • Key Joints: Sternoclavicular (SC), Acromioclavicular (AC), Glenohumeral
  • Standard Views & What They Show:
    • AP (Internal/External Rotation): General overview, tuberosities profile.
    • Grashey (True AP): Clear Glenohumeral joint space.
    • Axillary: Glenohumeral articulation, dislocations (anterior/posterior).
    • Scapular Y (Trauma view): Glenohumeral alignment, scapular body/processes, dislocations. Annotated Shoulder X-ray: AP and Scapular Y Views
  • Key Measurement:
    • Acromiohumeral Interval: Normal 7-11mm. ↓ suggests rotator cuff tear.
  • Common Ossification Centers: Proximal humerus, coracoid, acromion (appear & fuse at various ages).

⭐ Anterior dislocation is the most common type of shoulder dislocation (~95%), often showing Hill-Sachs (posterolateral humeral head impaction) and Bankart (anteroinferior glenoid labrum) lesions.

Elbow, Forearm, Wrist & Hand - Elbow to Hand Exposé

  • Key Bones:
    • Distal Humerus: Epicondyles, trochlea, capitellum.
    • Radius: Head, neck, styloid. Ulna: Olecranon, coronoid, styloid.
    • Carpals (📌 SLTPTTCH): Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetrum, Pisiform, Trapezium, Trapezoid, Capitate, Hamate.
    • Metacarpals, Phalanges.
  • Key Joints: Elbow (humeroulnar, humeroradial, proximal radioulnar), Distal radioulnar, Wrist (radiocarpal, midcarpal), Carpometacarpal (CMC), Metacophalangeal (MCP), Interphalangeal (IP).
  • Standard Views:
    • Elbow, Forearm: AP, Lateral.
    • Wrist: PA, Lateral, Scaphoid view, Ulnar deviation.
    • Hand: PA, Oblique, Lateral. Elbow Radiograph with Measurement Points
  • Important Lines/Signs:
    • Elbow: Anterior humeral line, Radiocapitellar line. Fat pad signs (posterior fat pad always abnormal).
    • Wrist: Gilula’s lines (carpal arcs), Terry Thomas sign (scapholunate dissociation).
  • Ossification Centers (Elbow - 📌 CRITOE): Capitellum (1y), Radial head (3y), Internal (medial) epicondyle (5y), Trochlea (7y), Olecranon (9y), External (lateral) epicondyle (11y).

⭐ Fall on outstretched hand (FOOSH) is a common mechanism for scaphoid, Colles', or radial head fractures.

Pelvis, Hip & Proximal Femur - Hip Highlights Radiography

  • Key Bones & Joints:
    • Pelvic Ring (Ilium, Ischium, Pubis), Acetabulum, Sacrum, Coccyx.
    • Proximal Femur: Head, Neck, Trochanters (Greater/Lesser).
    • Joints: Sacroiliac, Pubic Symphysis, Hip.
  • Standard Views:
    • Pelvis AP.
    • Hip AP (internal rotation for femoral neck).
    • Frog-leg lateral / Cross-table lateral (trauma).
  • Lines & Angles:
    • Shenton’s line, Iliofemoral line.
    • Klein’s line (for SCFE).
    • Femoral neck angle: 120-135°.
    • Pubic symphysis width: <10mm (adults, non-pregnant).
  • Ossification Centers: Femoral head, trochanters, acetabular Y-cartilage.

Hip angles: CE Angle of Wiberg & Head/Neck-Shaft Angle

⭐ Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) typically occurs in obese adolescents. Best diagnosed with frog-leg lateral views if Klein's line is equivocal on AP.

Knee, Ankle & Foot - Leg Landscapes Lowdown

  • Bones:
    • Knee: Distal Femur, Patella, Tibia (plateaus, tuberosity), Fibula (head).
    • Ankle: Tibia (medial malleolus), Fibula (lateral malleolus), Talus.
    • Foot: 📌 Tarsals (Talus, Calcaneus, Navicular, Cuboid, Cuneiforms (3) - Talented CAlifornian NAval CUstoms CUnningly MAnipulate), Metatarsals, Phalanges.
  • Joints:
    • Knee: Tibiofemoral, Patellofemoral, Proximal tibiofibular.
    • Ankle: Tibiotalar (Mortise), Subtalar.
    • Foot: Midtarsal (Chopart's), Tarsometatarsal (Lisfranc's).
  • Views:
    • Knee: AP, Lat, Skyline, Tunnel.
    • Ankle: AP, Lat, Mortise.
    • Foot: AP/DP, Oblique, Lat.
  • Lines/Angles:
    • Tibial plateau lines.
    • Patellar alignment: Insall-Salvati ratio (normal 0.8-1.2).
    • Boehler’s angle (calcaneus): normal $20-40°$.
    • Syndesmotic width, Talar tilt. Ankle Mortise View Radiographic Anatomy
  • Ossification: Patella, tibial tuberosity, distal femoral/proximal tibial epiphyses.

⭐ Ankle mortise view: key for syndesmosis integrity & subtle talar shift.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Ossification centers & fusion ages are key for age determination.
  • Salter-Harris fractures involve the physis; know their types (I-V).
  • Identify accessory ossicles (e.g., os trigonum) to avoid misdiagnosing fractures.
  • Sesamoid bones (e.g., patella) are common; note their typical locations.
  • Know normal joint spaces & alignments (e.g., carpal arcs, Boehler's angle).
  • Recognize soft tissue signs of bony injury (e.g., fat pad signs).
  • Standard views (AP, Lateral); special views (e.g., scaphoid, mortise) for specific areas.

Practice Questions: Radiographic Anatomy of Extremities

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What condition is primarily diagnosed using Von Rosen's view?

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Flashcards: Radiographic Anatomy of Extremities

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_____ is a descriptive term applied to bones that appear to have another bone within them*seen with?

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_____ is a descriptive term applied to bones that appear to have another bone within them*seen with?

Bone within bone

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