Purpose of the Shoulder X-Ray AP/LAT
1] Fractures: One of the most common reasons for a shoulder X-ray is to check for fractures in the shoulder bones, such as the humerus, scapula, or clavicle. Shoulder fractures can result from trauma, falls, or accidents and can range from minor cracks to more severe, displaced fractures.
2] Dislocations: The shoulder is highly prone to dislocations, especially in traumatic situations such as sports injuries or car accidents. An X-ray helps determine whether the humeral head has been displaced from the glenoid socket and assess the severity of the dislocation.
3] Arthritis and Degenerative Changes: Conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can affect the shoulder joints, leading to pain, swelling, and limited movement. X-rays help identify joint space narrowing, bone spurs, and other signs of arthritis in the shoulder.
4] Rotator Cuff Injuries: While soft tissue injuries like rotator cuff tears are typically better diagnosed with MRI, X-rays are useful in detecting associated bone changes or impingements that may accompany a rotator cuff tear, such as bone spurs in the acromion or other signs of degeneration.
5] Tendon or Ligament Injuries: X-rays are less effective for imaging soft tissues like tendons and ligaments, but they can reveal secondary bone changes caused by soft tissue injuries, such as calcific tendonitis, where calcium deposits build up in the tendons, or other degenerative changes.
6] Post-Surgical Evaluation: For patients who have undergone shoulder surgery, an X-ray can help assess the success of the procedure and monitor for complications like malunion or nonunion of fractures, hardware placement, or signs of infection.
How the X-Ray Procedure is Performed ?
To perform a shoulder X-ray in the AP and lateral views, the following steps are generally involved:
1] Positioning:
A] For the AP view, the patient typically sits or stands with their back to the X-ray machine, and the shoulder is positioned so that the X-ray beam passes through the body from front to back. The arm is often positioned slightly at the side to ensure the shoulder is in the correct alignment.
B] For the lateral view, the patient may either sit or lie down with the shoulder turned to the side so that the X-ray beam passes from the front to the back of the shoulder.
2] Image Capture: The X-ray machine emits a small amount of radiation through the shoulder to create detailed images of the bone structures. The technician may ask the patient to hold still or adjust their position slightly to get the best images possible.
3] Additional Views: In some cases, additional views or angles may be taken, such as the axillary view, which involves positioning the arm above the head to visualize the shoulder joint from below, or the grashey view, which focuses on the glenohumeral joint.
4] Multiple Images: The X-ray may include more than one image, such as the AP and lateral views, to provide a comprehensive assessment of the shoulder’s structure.
