DIAGNOSTIC RADIOGRAPHY · NTA LEVEL 4 · SEMESTER ONE Radiographic Procedure CRT04103 · Radiographic Techniques and Procedures START READING NOTES Study Radiographic Procedure using the sections below. Use the topic navigation to continue through Radiographic Techniques and Procedures. Contents of This Topic OBJECTIVES Perform under supervision the radiographic examinations of the appendicular and axial skeleton following Radiographic drill. DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGIES ANATOMICAL TERMS PLANE OF THE BODY PROJECTION/VIEWS VIEWS TERMINOLOGY A projection is described by the direction of the central ray relative to aspects and planes of the body. Radiographic Procedure BEAM ANGULATION POSITIONING TERMINOLOGY TERMS RELATED TO BODY MOVEMENT LIMB POSITION Extension: when the angle of the joint increases. GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF RADIOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION INDICATION RADIOGRAPHIC DRILL Radiation protection Equipment care Patient care Common challenges in position Radiographic examination RADIOGRAPHIC PROCEDURE OBJECTIVES At the end of this module students should be able to: Describe indications for requesting radiography of the appendicular skeletal and axial skeleton. Describe the common terms used in Radiography Procedures. Explain the anatomical position and projections used in Radiography of the appendicular skeleton and axial skeleton. Describe the body planes as used in Radiography. Describe the body movements and anatomical terms and projections used in various patient positions. Explain all the general principles associated with a radiographic examination including preparation, positioning, exposure considerations, focal film distance and image assessment. Perform under supervision the radiographic examinations of the appendicular and axial skeleton following Radiographic drill. Perform under supervision the radiographic examinations of the appendicular and axial skeleton following Radiographic drill. Identify the positioning aids and accessories used in a radiographic examinations Describe the Radiation protection and safety measures when conducting Radiographic examinations Explain the common difficulties encountered in different conditions and pathologies in Radiography of the appendicular skeleton and axial skeleton Describe Radiographs evaluation and various views Discuss the presentation of radiographs Identify radiographic patterns as they appears in various radiographic images DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGIES Definition of common terms as used in Radiography and imaging: Radiographer, Radiography, Radiograph, Radiologist and Medical imaging. Radiographic procedures Radiographic Protocols ANATOMICAL TERMS Anatomical position : In the anatomical position, the body is upright, directly facing the observer, feet flat and directed forward. The upper limbs are at the body’s sides with the palms facing forward. PLANE OF THE BODY Three planes of the body are used extensively for descriptions of positioning both in plain-film imaging and in cross-sectional imaging techniques. The planes described are mutually at right angles to each other: Median sagittal plane: divides the body into right and left halves. NB: Any plane that is parallel to this but divides the body into unequal right and left portions is known simply as a sagittal plane or parasagittal plane. Coronal plane: divides the body into an anterior part and a posterior part. Transverse or axial plane: divides the body into a superior part and an inferior part PROJECTION/VIEWS Anterior, Posterior Lateral, Superior, Inferior, Proximal, Distal, Medial, Caudal, Cephalic VIEWS TERMINOLOGY Views: AP, PA, Lateral, Oblique, Dorsal palmar, dorsal planter A projection is described by the direction of the central ray relative to aspects and planes of the body. Antero-posterior The central ray is incident on the anterior aspect, passes along or parallel to the median sagittal plane, and emerges from the posterior aspect of the body. Postero-anterior The central ray is incident on the posterior aspect, passes along or parallel to the median sagittal plane, and emerges from the anterior aspect of the body Lateral The central ray passes from one side of the body to the other along a coronal and transverse plane. The projection is called a right lateral if the central ray enters the body on the left side and passes through to the image receptor positioned on the right side Radiographic Procedure Oblique The central ray passes through the body along a transverse plane at some angle between the median sagittal and coronal planes. For this projection, the patient is usually positioned with the median sagittal plane at some angle between zero and 90 degrees to the cassette, with the central ray at right-angles to the cassette. Anterior oblique The central ray enters the posterior aspect, passes along a transverse plane at some angle to the median sagittal plane, and emerges from the anterior aspect. Posterior oblique The central ray enters the anterior aspect, passes along a transverse plane at some angle to the median sagittal plane, and emerges from the posterior aspect BEAM ANGULATION Radiographic projections are often modified by directing the central ray at some angle to a transverse plane, i.e. either caudally (angled towards the feet) or cranially/cephalic angulation (angled towards the head). The projection is then described as, for example, a lateral 20-degree caudad or a lateral 15-degree cephala POSITIONING TERMINOLOGY This describes how the patient is positioned for the various radiographic examination projections Erect: the projection is taken with the patient sitting or standing. In the erect position, the patient may be standing or sitting: with the posterior aspect against the cassette; or with the anterior aspect against the cassette; or with the right or left side against the cassette. Radiographic Procedure Decubitus: the patient is lying down. In the decubitus position, the patient may be lying in any of the following positions: Supine (dorsal decubitus): lying on the back. Prone (ventral decubitus): lying face-down. Lateral decubitus: lying on the side. Right lateral decubitus – lying on the right side. Left lateral decubitus – lying on the left side. Semi-recumbent: reclining, part way between supine and sitting erect, with the posterior aspect of the trunk against the cassette. TERMS RELATED TO BODY MOVEMENT Flexion Extension Adduction Abduction Circumduction Etc. LIMB POSITION Positioning for limb radiography may include: • This a describe the aspect of the limb in contact with the cassette; The direction of rotation of the limb in relation to the anatomical position, e.g. medial (internal) rotation towards the midline, or lateral (external) rotation away from the midline; the final angle to the cassette of a line joining two