Femur

Patient and part

For the AP femur, the patient is supine with the leg extended. Rotate the leg about 5 degrees internally for the middle and lower femur, and 15 to 20 degrees for the upper femur and hip, so the femoral neck lies parallel to the IR. For the lateral, the patient turns onto the affected side with the knee flexed about 45 degrees, and the other leg is placed behind the affected leg so it is out of the way and the patient does not roll forward. For the upper femur, roll the pelvis back about 10 to 15 degrees so the opposite hip does not overlap. In trauma, do not rotate or roll the leg. Take the AP as it lies and use a horizontal-beam lateral, with the IR between the legs for the lower femur or a Danelius-Miller view for the hip.