Long bones film check: humerus, femur and tib-fib

Both joints, two views

Every long bone gets two views at right angles, and on the first exam both views must include the joints at each end. On a follow-up, the joint nearest the injury is often enough. A fracture of one bone can come with a dislocation or a second fracture at the far joint. If the bone is too long for one IR, place it diagonally, or take two overlapping images: one with each joint. Put the cathode end of the tube at the thicker end of the part, the shoulder, hip or knee, to even out the density.