Normal hand radiograph on X‑ray: 3 real cases
Real, openly licensed radiographs showing normal hand radiograph. Study what to look for, then open each case and read it yourself before revealing the answer.
What to look for
- Trace every cortex of the metacarpals and phalanges: no break, step or buckle.
- Each joint is congruent; on the PA the carpometacarpal joints show parallel joint lines (an 'M' pattern).
- Soft tissues show no swelling, gas or foreign body; nutrient canals can mimic fracture lines.
Quiz yourself on upper limb images
Cases
Case #63719647Upper limb · Beginner
Case #63719650Upper limb · Beginner
Case #63719654Upper limb · BeginnerOther upper limb diagnoses
- Acromioclavicular joint dislocation
- Calcific tendinitis
- Carpal or carpometacarpal dislocation
- Clavicle fracture
- Distal radius fracture
- Elbow dislocation
- Finger (interphalangeal) dislocation
- Finger (phalangeal) fracture
- Forearm shaft fracture (radius and ulna)
- Galeazzi fracture-dislocation
- Hill-Sachs lesion
- Humeral shaft fracture
- Metacarpal fracture
- Normal elbow radiograph
- Normal shoulder radiograph
- Normal wrist radiograph
- Proximal humerus fracture
- Radial head fracture
- Rolando fracture
- Scaphoid fracture
- Shoulder (glenohumeral) dislocation
Diagnoses come from each image's documented source. Credits and licences are shown on each case and on the image credits page.