Study for the CAMRT Radiography Exam. Prepare with our comprehensive quiz that features multiple choice questions along with hints and explanations designed to enhance your understanding. Get ready to excel in your exam!

Practice this question and more.


If an ER stretcher patient's leg is medially rotated 15 degrees, should the tube be angled medially or laterally to open up the proximal tibia articulation?

  1. Medially

  2. Lateral

  3. Superiorly

  4. Inferiorly

The correct answer is: Medially

When a patient's leg is medially rotated, this rotation affects the alignment of the proximal tibia articulation with respect to the x-ray beam. To visualize the joint space properly, it is necessary to angle the x-ray tube in the opposite direction of the rotation. In this case, since the leg is medially rotated by 15 degrees, angling the tube medially will compensate for that rotation and help open up the proximal tibial articulation for better visualization of the joint. This adjustment ensures that the x-ray beam is perpendicular to the area of interest, allowing for a clearer image and improved diagnostic accuracy. In contrast, angling the tube laterally would further obscure the joint space due to the existing medial rotation, leading to superimposition of structures and potential misinterpretation of findings. Therefore, the correct approach involves angling the tube medially to counteract the medially rotated position of the leg.