Oblique Finger
Position the Patient
- Seated at table
- Place hand on IR
- Extend the affected finger
- Rotate finger 45° externally (use support if needed)
Words That Work
“Keep the finger we’re imaging straight. I’ll rotate your whole hand until that finger is halfway between lying flat and resting on its side. I’ll support it and move the other fingers out of the way so the bones don’t overlap. Hold still.”
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Oblique finger positioning
Set Up the Shot
- Center here
- Central ray
- PIP joint
- Include this in the field
- Collimation
- Entire finger and full metacarpal
- Set the distance
- SID
- 40"
- Check the technique
- Technique
- 55-60 kVp
- Follow facility protocols
Common Pitfalls
- •Incorrect obliquity (not 45°)
- •Joints not open
- •Entire finger and metacarpal not included
Evaluate the Image
What should be visible?
- Entire finger
- PIP, DIP, MCP joints
- Full metacarpal
Does the image pass?
- ✓45° oblique shown
- ✓Joints open
- ✓Entire finger and metacarpal included