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Joint x-ray

Show Alternative Names
X-ray - joint
Arthrography
Arthrogram

This test is an x-ray of a knee, shoulder, hip, wrist, ankle, or other joint.

How the Test is Performed

The test is done in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider's office. The x-ray technologist will help you position the joint to be x-rayed on the table. Once in place, pictures are taken. The joint may be moved into other positions for more images.

How to Prepare for the Test

Tell your provider if you are pregnant. Remove all jewelry before the x-ray.

How the Test will Feel

The x-ray is painless. It may be uncomfortable to move the joint into different positions.

Why the Test is Performed

The x-ray is used to detect fractures, tumors, or degenerative conditions of the joint.

What Abnormal Results Mean

The x-ray may show:

The test may also be performed to find out more about the following conditions:

Risks

There is low radiation exposure. X-ray machines are set to provide the smallest amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits. Children and the fetuses of pregnant women are more sensitive to the risks of the x-ray. A protective shield may be worn over areas not being scanned.

Review Date: 4/27/2023

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.

References

Contreras F, Perez J, Jose J. Imaging overview. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR, eds. DeLee, Drez, & Miller's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 7.

Kapoor G, Toms AP. Current status of imaging of the musculoskeletal system. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 38.

Disclaimer

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.

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Hand X-ray - Illustration Thumbnail

Hand X-ray

An x-ray is a photo taken with a machine which passes electromagnetic radiation through the body, capturing an image of the internal structures.

Illustration

 
 
Hand X-ray - Illustration Thumbnail

Hand X-ray

An x-ray is a photo taken with a machine which passes electromagnetic radiation through the body, capturing an image of the internal structures.

Illustration

 
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