Sunrise (Patellofemoral)
Position the Patient
- Patient seated at edge of table
- (“HOB” position)
- Knee flexed until patella is free of femur
- IR placed on stool in front of tibia
- (vertical)
- Patella centered to IR
- Standing variation: IR tilted to match beam
Words That Work
“Sit at the edge of the table and let your lower leg hang down, like a pendulum. Bend your knee only as far as is comfortable. Keep your kneecap and toes pointing straight ahead while I place the plate in front of your shin. This angle shows the space between your kneecap and the knee. Hold still.”
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Sunrise patellofemoral - seated HOB setup
Set Up the Shot
- Center here
- Central ray
- Patellofemoral joint space
- Include this in the field
- Collimation
- Patella and patellofemoral joint
- Set the distance
- SID
- 40"
- Check the technique
- Technique
- 60-65 kVp
- Follow facility protocols
Common Pitfalls
- •Insufficient knee flexion (patella not free of femur)
- •Patella not centered on IR
- •Rotation
Evaluate the Image
What should be visible?
- Patella in profile
- Patellofemoral joint space
Does the image pass?
- ✓Open patellofemoral joint
- ✓Patella centered
- ✓No rotation