RadteraXR Tibia-Fibula (Tib-Fib)
XRNo contrastMSK
Indications
- Lower leg pain/trauma
- Suspected tibial/fibular fracture
- Stress fracture
- Pathologic lesion
- Postoperative/hardware evaluation
Patient prep
- Remove radiopaque objects; remove shoe
Contrast
None / non-contrast
Technique
- AP: leg extended, foot vertical (slight internal rotation), CR perpendicular to mid-leg
- Lateral: mediolateral, knee flexed slightly, CR to mid-leg
- Include BOTH knee and ankle joints on every image
- SID 40 inches; kVp ~65-70; tabletop (use long IR diagonally)
Series / Sequences
| # | Series / Sequence | Plane | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AP | Frontal | Include both knee and ankle joints; foot vertical, no over-rotation |
| 2 | Lateral | Sagittal | Mediolateral; include both joints; superimpose femoral condyles at knee |
Key points
- Always include both joints to detect associated injuries (e.g., Maisonneuve fracture)
- Use long IR placed diagonally to capture full length on a single exposure
- Oblique views can be added for subtle fractures
References
• Bontrager's Handbook - Tibia and Fibula
• Merrill's Atlas Vol 1 - Lower Limb
• Radiopaedia: Tibia/fibula series link
• Merrill's Atlas Vol 1 - Lower Limb
• Radiopaedia: Tibia/fibula 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.