1. Skull, Spine and Limbs

2. Skull Anesthesia usually required
Many variations in skull types-need to know anatomy
Basic principles all the same
Did the DV and lateral in lab

3. Skull Dolichocephalic breeds Mesaticephalic breeds
Brachycephalic breeds
Cats

4. Skull Ventrodorsal view Patient is placed in dorsal recumbency
Forelimbs extended caudally
Nose must remain parallel to the cassette
Should include:
Place a pad under neck so that hard palate is parallel to film
Use tape to keep head aligned with table
Done when it is easier to position animal – deep chested dogs
Measurement=lateral canthus of the eye

5. Frontal Sinuses Rostrocaudal closed mouth view-
Patient placed in dorsal recumbency with nose pointing upward
Front legs are pulled caudally
Nose is perpendicular to cassette
Keep in place with gauze, tape, or tubing
Measurement=over site of nasal sinuses

6. Nasal Cavity Ventrodorsal Open-mouth view
Called the rostroventral-caudodorsal oblique
Patient is in dorsal recumbency with the front legs extended caudally
Maxilla remains
Mouth should be held wide open
Tie gauze around both mandible and maxilla and pull in opposite directions
ET tube should be tied to mandible or removed
X-ray tube should be angled 20-30° so the x-ray beam is directed into the mouth
Measurement=over level of third upper premolar

7. Tympanic Bullae Rostrocaudal open-mouth view
Patient is placed in dorsal recumbency with the nose pointing upward
Front legs pulled in caudal direction
Mouth is held open usually by tying gauze around mandible and maxilla and extend in opposite directions
Nose is pulled 10-15° in a cranial direction and the mandible is pulled caudally
Should include:
Measurement=at level of commissure of lips

8. Skull Where to measure DV and VD – Lateral Rostrocaudal closed mouth –
Rostroventral-caudodorsal open mouth
Rostrocaudal open mouth view –

9. Spine Important factors Vertebral column must be parallel to tabletop
Disk spaces must be nearly perpendicular to the tabletop in alignment with the central axis of the beam

10. Cervical spine
In lateral check the medial canthus – should be perpendicular to cassette/table
Include from base of skull to spine of scapula

11. Cervical Spine Ventrodorsal view
Patient is placed in dorsal recumbency with the head extended cranially and front limbs pulled caudally
Should include: base of skull, the entire cervical spine and the first few thoracic vertebrae
May be necessary to use 2 pictures for large patients (due to thickness differences)
Measure at
Measurement=c5-c6 intervertebral space

12. Cervical spine lateral
Lateral recumbancy
Elevate the nose with a sponge
Use foam pads beneath cervical vertebrae to keep parallel to table
Borders-
Measure at level of

13. Cervical Spine hyperextended lateral view
Patient is placed in lateral recumbency with the head and neck extended and the front limbs pulled in a caudal direction
Apply gentle traction by pulling head cranially
Elevate nose with foam
Measure at
May be necessary to use 2 pictures for large patients (due to thickness differences)
myelogram
Measurement=Over thoracic inlet (C-7)

14. Cervical Spine Flexed lateral view
Patient is placed in lateral recumbency with the front limbs pulled in a caudal direction
Gauze is used to pull mandible downward toward chest
Measure at
Measurement=Over thoracic inlet (C-7)

15. Spine Cervical Thoracic Thoraco-lumbar Lumbar Lumbosacral Caudal
Lateral and VD
Borders – xyphoid-caudal portion of last rib
Think dachshunds!!!
Lumbar
Lumbosacral
Caudal

16. Thoracic limb Raduis/ulna Carpus, metacarpus and digits Scapula
Lateral, caudocranial views
Humerus
Lateral, caudocranial, craniocaudal views
Elbow
Lateral, flexed lateral, craniocaudal, obliques
Raduis/ulna
Lateral, craniocaudal
Carpus, metacarpus and digits
Lateral, dorsopalmar, hyperflexed carpus, obliques

17. Pelvic limb Pelvis Femur Stifle Tibia/fibia
VD, lateral
Femur
Lateral, craniocaudal
Stifle
Lateral, caudocranial (patient in sternal recumbancy!!!!)
Tibia/fibia
Lateral, caudocranial
Tarsus, metarsus and digits
Lateral, plantarodorsal

18. 7 things to remember with extremities
1) Measure at thickest area
2) Center at the area of interest
3) If taking long bone, include joint above and below
4) If taking joint, include part of long bone above and below joint
5) Always do at least 2 views
6) Remember label and where to place lead markers
7) Extremities are done on the tablet top so adjust SID