Hand series (summary)

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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

  • indications
    • suspicion of bony injury
    • assessment of radiopaque foreign body
    • assessment of joint disease
  • 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
  • similar series
  • important pathology
Medical student radiology curriculum