Foot series

The foot series is comprised of a dorsoplantar (DP), medial oblique, and a lateral projection. The series is often utilized in emergency departments after trauma or sports related injuries .

See: approach to foot series.

Indications

Foot radiographs are performed for a variety of indications including :

• foot trauma
• bony tenderness at the base of the 5th metatarsal
• bony tenderness at the navicular bone
• inability to weight-bear more than four steps
• non-traumatic foot pain

Projections

Standard projections

• DP
  • demonstrates the metatarsals in the natural anatomical position
• medial oblique
  • a DP projection with the foot angled 30-40° medially (depending on the transverse arch)
  • the most pertinent projection for the evaluation of the tarsal bones that form the midfoot and forefoot structures
• lateral
  • projection 90° to the DP view
  • demonstrates the foot in profile from the distal phalanges to the skin margins of the posterior calcaneus, extending superiorly to the talocrural joint

Additional projections

• weightbearing DP
  • the DP projection, however, weight bearing
  • this projection is useful when observing how the structures of the foot perform under weight
  • performed to assess for a dynamic widening of the Lisfranc joint, which would indicate a Lisfranc injury
• weightbearing lateral
  • the lateral projection, however, weight bearing. This projection is useful when observing how the structures of the foot perform under weight

Depending on geography, the lateral foot projection may be considered an additional projection.