C SPINE POSITIONING

AP AXIAL C SPINE

Pt position: supine or upright. Lift chin slightly.

CR entrance: CR enters C4 (light field: top of ear to sternal notch).

tube angle: 15-20 cephalic

SID: 40 inches

Light field: 10× 12 but can collimate down

breathing: suspend respiration

ODONTOID

Pt position: supine or upright. Head tilted back so that mastoid tip and occlusal plane of upper teeth are perpendicular to the IR. Mouth open.

CR entrance: middle of open mouth or just below upper teeth

tube angle: none

SID: 40”

Light field: ~ 5 × 7. Light shouldn’t be above nose or below chin.

breathing: suspend

FUCHS

Pt position: supine/upright. Chin raised to bring earlobe and tip of chin perpendicular to the board.

CR entrance: meaty part of distal chin.

tube angle: none

SID: 40”

Light field: 5×5

breathing:suspend

marker: in corner of light field.

MODIFIED FUCHS (trauma view)

Pt position: supine/upright

CR entrance: meaty part of distal chin

tube angle: ~30 degrees +. match CR to angle of jaw line.

SID: 40”

Light field: 5×5

breathing: suspend

LATERAL C SPINE

Pt position: left side against IR. Reach towards floor to depress shoulders.

CR entrance: CR at C4. Light field from top of ear to mid-humeral head.

tube angle: none. Can turn collimator housing.

SID: 72”

Light field: 10× 12 but can collimate down.

breathing: suspend on full expiration

• For flex/ex, just turn collimator housing to match patient position. “Tuck your chin to your chest” and “Look up at the ceiling”

AP AXIAL OBLIQUE

Pt position: RPO/LPO 45 degrees. Turn head to a lateral position.

CR entrance: CR @ C4. Light field at top of ear to jugular notch.

tube angle: 15-20 degrees cephalad.

SID: 72”

Light field: 10× 12. Can collimate down.

breathing: suspend respiration