Wrist PA
Position the Patient
- Seated at table
- Place wrist flat on IR
- Curl fingers slightly to reduce OID
Words That Work
“Rest your forearm and hand on the table with your palm facing down. Curl your fingers gently—like resting them over a small ball—so your wrist lies flat against the plate. Keep your wrist straight and hold still.”
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PA wrist positioning
Set Up the Shot
- Center here
- Central ray
- Mid‑carpal area
- Include this in the field
- Collimation
- Distal forearm to mid‑metacarpals
- Set the distance
- SID
- 40"
- Check the technique
- Technique
- 55-60 kVp
- Follow facility protocols
Common Pitfalls
- •Rotation
- •Carpals not clearly visualized
- •Distal radius and ulna cut off
Evaluate the Image
What should be visible?
- Carpals
- Distal radius and ulna
- Proximal metacarpals
Does the image pass?
- ✓No rotation (separation of the distal radius and ulna)
- ✓Carpals clearly seen
- ✓Distal radius and ulna included