Musculoskeletal Section Macros
Ankle – AP, lateral, and oblique (ankle mortise) are standard 3 view ankle. Lateral often combined with
lateral foot when foot and ankle are performed at the same time.
Arthrogram
Biopsy
Cervical – AP, lateral, and odontoid are standard trauma series. Note that these are billed/listed as 2
views. Swimmers view is often added for cervical-thoracic junction; we don’t get paid for this
either. Additional variations include adding bilateral oblique views to show the facets and
foramina and adding flexion and extension views.
Calcaneus – Lateral and Harris views. Harris view is performed at 45° angle PA projection and
demonstrates posterior and middle subtalar joints.
Clavicle – AP and cranially angulated views are standard 2.
CT Cervical – Easy to modify for T or L spine or even an extremity. Change the title and technique.
Elbow – AP and lateral are standard 2. Oblique lateral view can be used to show radial head better.
Extremity – Generic radiograph template
Femur – AP and lateral. Frequently need multiple exposures/images in the AP or lateral projection to get
the entire length of bone, but it is still only 2 views.
Finger – Three views frequently performed with PA, lateral, and oblique. May #1-5 or use conventional
nomenclature (thumb, index, middle, ring, little)
Foot – AP (dorsal-plantar), lateral, and oblique are standard
Foot Arthritis – AP and lateral
Forearm – AP and lateral
Hand – PA, lateral, and oblique are standard
Hand Arthritis – PA and ballcatcher (aka Allstate or Norgaard)
Hip – AP and lateral. AP frequently is of the whole pelvis for comparison. Lateral is a lateral view of the
femoral neck. It is usually crosstable in post-op or trauma setting, frogleg for other pain. Sometimes
bilateral hips are done.
Humerus – AP and lateral. Frequently need multiple exposures/images in the AP or lateral projection to
get the entire length of bone, but it is still only 2 views.
Knee – AP and lateral are standard trauma, AP lateral and sunrise (patellofemoral) are the usual 3 view
series, AP lateral sunrise and notch are the standard 4 views and frequently include the contralateral
sunrise and notch knee when performed by Dr. Geier. Sometimes bilateral knees are done.
Leg – Tibia and Fibula. AP and lateral. Frequently need multiple exposures/images in the AP or lateral
projection to get the entire length of bone, but it is still only 2 views.
Lumbar – AP, lateral, and coned lateral view are the standard 3 view series. Variations include bilateral
obliques and flexion extension views.
Me – To add your resident signature. i.e. “voice dicated by Resident Smith.”
Operative – The operative macro is for cases in which the department is providing C-arm intraoperative
images, but we are not interpreting. These are almost always orthopedic surgery cases and usually for
fracture fixation. Leave (don’t dictate) barium enemas, cystograms, and biliary/GI fluoro cases alone
when they are on the list. Leave IR vertebroplasty cases on the list. Approve (don’t dictate) vascular
surgery, heart cath, and pacemaker placement cases to get them off the list. Approve PM&R (Dr. Smith)
cases such as epidural steroid and SI joint injections to get them off the list.
Pelvis – Note single view below which is the most common exam. Inlet and outlet (2) views for pelvic
ring fracture. AP and bilateral oblique views (3) for acetabular fracture. Sacrum and SI joint are different
exams.
Trauma Pelvis – Single AP view
Ribs – PA and oblique, whether PA includes the chest or not. Frequently has multiple images for the
oblique projection.
Sacrum – Standard is 2 views, a Ferguson view and lateral. The Ferguson view is a coned view of the
sacrum which is cranially angled to look en face at the sacrum.
Shoulder – AP with internal and external rotation, +/- axillary or scapular Y view. Grashey view profiles
the glenoid. Outlet view shows the coracoacromial arch where the rotator cuff is impinged and is
frequently done for Dr. Woolf. Sometimes bilateral shoulders are done.
Shunt – 2 views skull, 1 view chest, 2 view abdomen.
SI Joint – may be done as 1 Ferguson view (see sacrum above) or 3 views with a Ferguson and bilateral
obliques.
Skull – usually AP and lateral, may include Waters view to show the maxillary sinuses, Caldwell view to
show the orbits, or submental views to show the zygomatic arches
Survey – For myeloma/mets. 2 skull, 2 each of C, T, and L spine. Chest and pelvis AP. Proximal humeri
and femurs AP.
Thoracic Spine – AP and lateral
Thoracolumbar - AP and lateral
Toe – AP and lateral, +/- oblique. We are currently only billing for 2 views, even when 3 are done.
Wrist – PA and lateral. Scaphoid view is ulnar deviated wrist that elongates the appearance of the
scaphoid.