Lab 5 - Shoulder, Elbow, Stifle

Lateral Shoulder: Head Positioning

Arch head and neck dorsally so they are 135 degrees to thoracic spine, place sandbag over neck

Lateral Shoulder: Hind Limb Positioning

Natural position, sandbag if needed

Lateral Shoulder: Forelimb Positioning

• Pull contralateral limb caudally in line with neck, secure with sandbag or tie

• Affected limb extended perpendicular to line of neck downward and cranial so shoulder joint ventral to sternum, sandbag

Lateral Shoulder: How do you palpate the shoulder joint?

Feel along humerus

Lateral Shoulder: Why should you avoid over rotation of the thorax?

Will cause the shoulder to be in an oblique position

Lateral Shoulder: The shoulder joint should not be superimposed with the _______

trachea

Lateral Shoulder: Measure

• At level of shoulder joint

• Extend caliper to point of unaffected shoulder but do not include

Lateral shoulder: Central Ray

• Palpate proximal head of humerus & glenoid fossa of scapula

• Center at scapulohumeral articulation (shoulder joint)

Lateral Shoulder: Borders

Proximal third of scapula through proximal third of the humerus

Marker Placement for lateral radiograps

Cranial aspect for lateral views and lateral aspect for opposite views

Lateral Elbow: Head & Neck Positioning

Move dorsally, place sandbag over neck

Lateral Elbow: Hind Limb Positioning

Natural position, sandbag if needed

Lateral Elbow: Forelimb Positioning

• Extend contralateral limb caudally, secure w/ tie or sandbag

• Effected limb cranially and ventrally so degree of flexion between 45-90 degrees

Lateral Elbow: What may a small foam pad under the shoulder and distal region of the affected limb help with?

Maintain lateral symmetry of structures

Lateral Elbow: How do you know your positioning is correct?

• Superimposition of distal humeral condyles

• Clear view of olecranon

Lateral Elbow: Measure

Thickest part of the elbow at distal humerus

Lateral Elbow: Central Ray

Palpate and center on distal humeral condyles (elbow)

Lateral Elbow: Borders

Distal 3rd of humerus to proximal 3rd of radius/ulna

Lateral Stifle: Head Positioning

Natural position, sandbag

Lateral Stifle: Forelimb Positioning

Pull forelimbs cranially, sandbag or tie

Lateral Stifle: Hind Limb Positioning

• Flex unaffected limb, abduct, pull laterally with bungee cord/rope to stable surface

• Extend affected limb, keep stifle in relatively natural position so patella rotated slightly towards cassette/detector. Secure limb.

Lateral Stifle: Measure

Distal end of femur

Lateral Stifle: Central Ray

Palpate and center on indentation of stifle joint (intercondylar fossa of femur)

Lateral Stifle: Borders

Proximal 3rd of tibia and distal 3rd of femur

Lateral Stifle: How can you keep the tibia parallel to image recepor?

Foam pad under tarsus of affected limb

Lateral Stifle: How do you know your positioning is correct?

Superimposition of femoral condyles