BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHand x-rayX-ray - handThis test is an x-ray of one or both hands.x-rayX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A hand x-ray is taken in a hospital radiology department or your health care provider's office by an x-ray technician. You will be asked to place your hand on the x-ray table, and keep it very still as the picture is being taken. You may need to change the position of your hand, so more images can be taken. How to Prepare for the Test Tell the provider if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. Remove all jewelry from your hand and wrist. How the Test will Feel Generally, there is little or no discomfort associated with x-rays. Why the Test is Performed Hand x-ray is used to detect fractures, tumors, foreign objects, or degenerative conditions of the hand. Hand x-rays may also be done to find out a child's "bone age." This can help determine if a health problem is preventing the child from growing properly or how much growth is left.FracturesIf more pressure is put on a bone than it can stand, it will split or break. A break of any size is called a fracture. If the broken bone punctures...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may include:Fractures Bone tumors Bone tumorsA bone tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within a bone. A bone tumor may be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Degenerative bone conditions Osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone caused by an infection)OsteomyelitisOsteomyelitis is a bone infection. It is caused by bacteria or other germs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low when compared to the benefits. Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of x-rays.Open ReferencesReferencesMettler FA. Skeletal system. In: Mettler FA, ed. Essentials of Radiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 8.Schoener B, Wagner MJ. Hand injuries. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 42.AllVideoImagesTogHand X-ray - illustration An x-ray is a photo taken with a machine which passes electromagnetic radiation through the body, capturing an image of the internal structures.Hand X-rayillustrationHand X-ray - illustration An x-ray is a photo taken with a machine which passes electromagnetic radiation through the body, capturing an image of the internal structures.Hand X-rayillustration Tests for Hand x-ray Hand x-rayX-rayRelated Information X-ray(Medical Test)Broken bone(Injury)Bone tumor(Condition)Osteomyelitis(Condition) Review Date: 7/25/2022 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Hand x-rayX-ray - handThis test is an x-ray of one or both hands.x-rayX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed A hand x-ray is taken in a hospital radiology department or your health care provider's office by an x-ray technician. You will be asked to place your hand on the x-ray table, and keep it very still as the picture is being taken. You may need to change the position of your hand, so more images can be taken. How to Prepare for the Test Tell the provider if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. Remove all jewelry from your hand and wrist. How the Test will Feel Generally, there is little or no discomfort associated with x-rays. Why the Test is Performed Hand x-ray is used to detect fractures, tumors, foreign objects, or degenerative conditions of the hand. Hand x-rays may also be done to find out a child's "bone age." This can help determine if a health problem is preventing the child from growing properly or how much growth is left.FracturesIf more pressure is put on a bone than it can stand, it will split or break. A break of any size is called a fracture. If the broken bone punctures...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may include:Fractures Bone tumors Bone tumorsA bone tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within a bone. A bone tumor may be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Degenerative bone conditions Osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone caused by an infection)OsteomyelitisOsteomyelitis is a bone infection. It is caused by bacteria or other germs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low when compared to the benefits. Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of x-rays.Open ReferencesReferencesMettler FA. Skeletal system. In: Mettler FA, ed. Essentials of Radiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 8.Schoener B, Wagner MJ. Hand injuries. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 42.