Radiology of the hand

X-rays - Neutral position

The neutral position is crucial for correct image interpretation of wrist radiographs in two planes. See how the neutral views are correctly acquired and checked with characteristics.

X-rays - Stress, Stecher view

Two additional radiographs of the wrist are important for detecting injuries, namely the stress radiograph in the ball grip and the Stecher view. See how these are performed.

X-rays - Midhand, fingers

Fractures, dislocations, and osteoarthritis are common at the midhand and fingers as well as in the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints. Precise radiographs are essential.

X-rays - Whole-hand views

Radiographs of the whole hand are taken in the diagnostics of severe hand injuries, inflammatory systemic diseases, and in congenital malformations. Three views are often used.

X-rays - Arthrography

Indications for carpal arthrography are the scapholunate and lunotriquetral dissociations, lesions of the foveal lamina of the TFCC and initial stages of chondropathy.

Ultrasound - Soft tissues

Although often underestimated by radiologists, high-frequency ultrasound plays an important role in the assessment of pathologies of the soft-tissues.

CT - Positioning and regions

The scan volume should be kept to a minimum in CT diagnostics in order to fulfil radiation protection guidelines and to limit the number of images.

CT - Planes and parameters

Standardized slice reconstructions from the three-dimensional CT data set are important for image interpretation and reproducibility in follow-up studies.

CT - Axis of the scaphoid

The scaphoid has a special position on the wrist because it is orientated at angles of approx. 45 degrees relative to the coronal and sagittal planes. This is relevant in CT imaging.

CT - Arthrography

CT arthrography is a sensitive method for detecting intra-articular pathologies (scapholunate / lunotriquetral dissociation, TFCC lesion, chonodropathy).

MRI - Positioning, regions

In to obtain a high spatial resolution in a reasonable examination time, the field of view (FoV) and the number of sequences must be kept small in MR imaging.

MRI - Contrast agent

Unlike the often-unenhanced examinations, in our opinion it is essential to perform MRI of the hand with the use of contrast agent (intravenous, intra-articular).