Femur x-ray (summary)

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This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists

A femur x-ray, also known as femur series or femur radiograph, is a set of two x-rays performed of the entire femur. It is performed to look for evidence of injury (or pathology) affecting the femur. It may be performed as a second test after a hip or knee x-ray has demonstrated a femoral fracture.

Reference article

This is a summary article. For more information, you can read a more in-depth reference article: femur series.

Summary

  • indications
    • suspicion of bony injury
    • assessment of a partially imaged fracture on hip or knee x-ray
  • procedure
    • includes the entire bone including the hip and knee joints
    • AP and lateral views of the femur
      • views at 90 degrees to each other
  • similar tests
    • hip x-ray
      • pelvis x-ray and lateral/oblique view of the hip
      • performed specifically looking for hip fracture/injury
    • knee x-ray
      • performed specifically looking for knee injury
  • important pathology
Medical student radiology curriculum