Knee (Beclere method intercondylar view)

Last revised by Andrew Murphy on 23 Mar 2023

The Béclere method intercondylar view is an additional projection of the knee, used to better examine the tibial plateau and femoral intercondylar spaces 1. It is anecdotally known as a 'notch view'.

The commonest indications for this additional knee view is for the assessment of a loose body (locked knee) and better delineation of the intercondylar eminence.

  • the patient is supine on the table with the knee flexed 40 degrees 1
  • the image receptor is placed under the flexed knee slightly more superior than that of the AP projection 
  • axial projection
  • centering point
    • central ray is angled to align perpendicular to the tibia central to 1.5 cm distal of the apex of the patella
  • collimation
    • superior to include the distal femur
    • inferior to include the proximal tibia/fibula
    • lateral to include the skin margin 
    • medial to include medial skin margin
  • orientation  
    • portrait
  • detector size
    • 24 cm x 30 cm
  • exposure
    • 60-70 kVp
    • 7-10 mAs
  • SID
    • 100 cm
  • grid
    • no
  • tibial plateau should be free from any superimposition
  • femoral condyles should be free from superimposition with the intercondylar fossa in profile, giving the appearance of a 'notch'
  • ensure before carrying out x-ray the image receptor is superior enough to contain the image

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