Radiographic Positioning: Radiographic Positioning of the Cervical Spine

CERVICAL SPINE WITH OBLIQUES (NON-TRAUMA)

ROUTINE POSITIONS:
AP
Open Mouth
Flexion and Extension Laterals
Left Lateral
Obliques (RPO, LPO)

AP
1. 8 x 10 film
2. Patient supine or erect with chin extended.
3. Bucky
4. 40" SID
5. Tube angled 20 degree cephalad
6. Centering Point: thyroid cartilage.

OPEN MOUTH
1. 8 x 10 film
2. Patient supine or erect, adjust head so that the upper occlusal plane is perpendicular to table, have patient open mouth.
3. Bucky
4. 40" SID
5. Central Ray: perpendicular to film, thru opened mouth

LEFT LATERAL
1. 10 x 12 film
2. Patient sitting or standing at upright film holder with cervical vertebrae centered on film.
3. 72" SID
4. Central Ray: perpendicular to film
5. Centering point: center to neck with film 2" above E.A.M.
6. Shoulders depressed (hold weights)
7. Must see C-7

LATERAL FLEXION/EXTENSION
Same as left lateral except have patient depress chin to chest (flexion), hyperextend chin (extension).

OBLIQUES (RPO, LPO)
1. Patient sitting or standing with back against upright film bucky.
2. Rotate patient so that they are 45 degrees away from film for each side.
3. Angle tube 15 degree cephalad.
4. 40" SID

*A swimmer''s view may be utilized to demonstrate C-7. See trauma C-spine for positioning.