Small Animal Pelvis and Hind
Limb
Radiology
Pelvis
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Lateral view
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Patient is in lateral recumbency with side of
interest closest to cassette.
Femurs should be kept parallel to cassette.
Leg closest to cassette should be pulled slightly
cranial and leg on top should be pulled slightly
caudal.
View should include entire pelvis and portion of
lumbar spine and femurs.
Pelvis should be centered on cassette.
Normal Pelvis Lateral View
Dye view
Pelvis
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Ventrodorsal view
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Frog Leg projection
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Suitable when pelvic trauma is suspected.
Minimal stress and tension are placed on the
pelvis and hip joints in this projection.
Patient is in dorsal recumbency and pelvic limbs
can assume a normal, flexed position.
Limbs should be positioned identically.
Frog Leg projection
Pelvis
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Ventrodorsal View
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Extended Projection
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Standard for evaluating hip joints for hip
dysplasia.
Symmetry and precision is vital for this view.
Sedation is generally required (OFA
certification).
Patient is in dorsal recumbency.
Tarsal joints are grasped firmly and rotated in
to one another.
Positioning continued
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1. Femurs are parallel to each other
2. Both patellae are centered between the
femoral condyles.
3. Pelvis is without rotation; the obturator
foramens, hip joints, hemipelvises, and
sacroiliac joints appear as a mirror image.
4. The tail is secured with tape (if necessary)
between the femurs.
5. Field of view includes pelvis, femurs, and
stifle joints.
Positioning for extended view
Distracted or PennHIP method
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Refers to a specific diagnostic technique of
hip laxity information.
More reliable indication of hip laxity than
extended view.
Stress radiographic procedure with 3 views
(compression, standard extended, and
distraction view).
To perform this method, veterinarian or
technician must be certified.
Compressed view
Distracted Positioning View
Femur
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Lateral view
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Patient is in lateral recumbency with
affected limb closest to cassette.
Opposite limb is abducted and rotated out
of line of the x-ray beam.
Should include hip joint, femur, and stifle
joint.
Femur
Femur
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Craniocaudal View
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Patient is in dorsal recumbency with limb
of interest extended caudally.
Proper alignment has patella between two
femoral condyles.
View should include hip joint, femur, and
stifle joint.
Stifle Joint
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Caudocranial View
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Positioned in sternal recumbency with
affected limb pulled into position of
maximum extension.
Opposite limb may be elevated to help
control the lateral rotation of the stifle
joint under examination.
May also do craniocaudal view.
Stifle
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Lateral View
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Patient is placed in lateral recumbency with
affected joint placed and centered on the
cassette.
Stifle joint should be in a natural, slightly
flexed position.
Stifle
Stifle Joint
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Skyline Projection of Patella (Sunrise View)
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Demonstrates changes that can occur to patella
and femoral trochlear groove.
Patient is in lateral recumbency with the opposite
limb down on the table.
Affected limb should be in a fully flexed position.
Cassette is placed behind stifle joint, vertically,
and a horizontal x-ray beam is centered to the
patella.
Tibia and Fibula
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Lateral View
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Patient is in lateral recumbency with
affected limb on the cassette.
Stifle should be slightly flexed and
maintained in true lateral position.
Opposite limb pulled cranially or caudally
out of x-ray beam.
View should include stifle joint, tibia and
fibula, and tarsal joint.
Tibia and Fibula
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Caudocranial View
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Patient is in sternal recumbency with affected limb
extended caudally.
Tibia and fibula are centered on the cassette.
Should be in true caudocranial position so that the
patella is placed between the two femoral
condyles.
View should contain stifle joint, tibia and fibula
and tarsal joints.
Tarsus
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Lateral View
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Patient is in lateral recumbency
Tarsus is in a natural, slightly flexed
position and centered on the cassette.
Tarsus must remain in true lateral postion
Opposite leg should be pulled cranially out
of x-ray beam.
Tarsus
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Plantardorsal View
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Placed in sternal recumbency with affected
limb extended as for the caudocranial view
of tibia and fibula.
Tarsus is centered on cassette.
Tarsus
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Dorsoplantar View
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Placed in sternal recumbency with
affected limb extended cranially
alongside the body.
Metatarsus-Phalanges
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Lateral View
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Patient in lateral recumbency with the affected
metatarsus centered on the cassette.
Opposite limb is pulled caudally or cranially out of
view of x-ray beam.
Joint is positioned in a natural flexed position.
View should include tarsal joint, metatarsal and
phalanges
Metatarsus-Phalanges
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Dorsoplantar and Plantardorsal Views
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Positioned similarly to those of tarsus.