This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists
A hand series (or hand x-ray) may be performed for a multitude of reasons. However, they are most commonly used in the assessment of trauma by clinical teams in the Emergency Department or Orthopedic service.
Reference article
This is a summary article. For more information, you can read a more in-depth reference article: hand series.
Summary
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indications
- suspicion of bony injury
- assessment of radiopaque foreign body
- assessment of joint disease
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procedure
- AP and oblique views of the hand
- a lateral view is of little use unless answering specific questions
- extends from the radiocarpal joint to the tips of fingers
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similar series
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wrist series
- distal radius and ulna, carpals and proximal metacarpals
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scaphoid series
- wrist series plus two additional scaphoid views
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thumb series
- just for looking at the thumb
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both hands
- used in arthritis for joint assessment
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wrist series
- important pathology