RadteraXR Femur
XRNo contrastMSK
Indications
- Thigh pain/trauma
- Suspected femoral shaft fracture
- Pathologic lesion/metastasis
- Postoperative/hardware evaluation
Patient prep
- Remove clothing with radiopaque objects; gown
Contrast
None / non-contrast
Technique
- AP: supine, leg internally rotated 5-15 deg (only if no fracture), CR perpendicular to mid-femur
- Lateral: mediolateral with affected side down (non-trauma) or cross-table horizontal beam (trauma), CR to mid-femur
- Include the joint nearest the pathology; ideally both hip and knee (often two images)
- SID 40 inches; grid for proximal femur; kVp ~75-85
Series / Sequences
| # | Series / Sequence | Plane | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AP | Frontal | Internal rotation 5-15 deg if no fracture; include hip or knee (joint nearest injury) |
| 2 | Lateral | Sagittal | Mediolateral (non-trauma) or cross-table horizontal beam (trauma); include relevant joint |
Key points
- Include both hip and knee joints when possible — may require two exposures for full coverage
- Use horizontal-beam lateral for suspected fracture instead of rotating limb
- Image the joint closest to the suspected pathology at minimum
References
• Bontrager's Handbook - Femur
• Merrill's Atlas Vol 1 - Lower Limb/Femur
• Radiopaedia: Femur series link
• Merrill's Atlas Vol 1 - Lower Limb/Femur
• Radiopaedia: Femur series link
Source: Researched — verify against your institution
Reference template — verify and adapt to your scanner, vendor and institution before clinical use. Not a substitute for clinical judgment.