RadteraXR Hip (Unilateral)
XRNo contrastMSK
Indications
- Hip pain
- Suspected fracture (proximal femur/neck)
- Osteoarthritis
- Avascular necrosis
- Postoperative arthroplasty/hardware evaluation
Patient prep
- Remove radiopaque objects over hip/pelvis; gown
Contrast
None / non-contrast
Technique
- AP hip: supine, affected leg internally rotated 15-20 deg (only if no fracture suspected), CR perpendicular to femoral neck (~2.5 inches distal along perpendicular from midpoint of line between ASIS and symphysis)
- Lateral: frog-leg (modified Cleaves) — abduct/externally rotate flexed knee; OR cross-table (axiolateral/Danelius-Miller) horizontal beam for suspected fracture
- SID 40 inches; grid; kVp ~75-85
Series / Sequences
| # | Series / Sequence | Plane | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AP hip | Frontal | Internal rotation 15-20 deg (omit if fracture suspected); CR to femoral neck; include proximal third of femur and acetabulum |
| 2 | Lateral (frog-leg or cross-table) | Sagittal/Axiolateral | Frog-leg for non-trauma; cross-table axiolateral (Danelius-Miller) with horizontal beam preferred for suspected fracture/post-op |
Key points
- Use cross-table (horizontal beam) axiolateral instead of frog-leg if fracture or arthroplasty present — avoids painful/contraindicated leg movement
- Often an AP pelvis is obtained for comparison
- Do not force internal rotation in trauma
References
• Bontrager's Handbook - Hip
• Merrill's Atlas Vol 1 - Hip and Proximal Femur
• Radiopaedia: Hip series link
• Merrill's Atlas Vol 1 - Hip and Proximal Femur
• Radiopaedia: Hip 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.