X-Ray Hand (AP / Obl View) Test

Hand x-ray is one of the most common techniques which are used to detect the particular uneasiness happening in your hand and bones. A hand x-ray is used to identify the things such as trauma with the suspected fracture, suspected metacarpal dislocation, foreign body detection and localisation, investigation of joint pain or deformity, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The hand x-ray is comprised of a posteroanterior and oblique, projection although additional radiographs can be taken for specific indications. A series of primarily examines is also done before the x-ray.

There are no special preparations required before the test. All you need to do is ask your doctor for the special instructions so that he can guide you and based on that you can prepare for the test. It is based on what type of injury do you have or if you are going through some particular medication. It also depends on the past injuries as well. For the pregnant woman, special care should be taken as x-ray may affect the fetus. Thus she should tell the doctor about pregnancy.

As stated above, the hand x-ray is done to know the different reasons of uneasiness in the hand
movement.
1. The x-ray is taken from different angles and different positions such as AP and Obl.
2. Based on the different angles and directions the complete image of the bone come in front of
the doctor.
3. This image helps him to diagnose the area that is having the maximum trauma or injury.
4. Based on that proper treatment is give to you so that you can get rid of pain and uneasiness
easily.

The procedure will vary depending on what position is there –PA or Oblique.
1. The patient will sit alongside the table.
2. The arm will be flexed at 90 degrees (if possible), so the arm and hand can rest on the table.
3. For PA position the affected arm is placed and palm down on the image receptor.
4. In oblique position, the hand will be moved 45 degrees externally from the PA position. The
fingers are kept in extension and parallel to the image receptor.
5. The shoulder, elbow, and wrist are all kept in the transverse plane, perpendicular to the
central beam.
6. The hand and elbow should be at shoulder height which makes radius and ulna parallel.