A radiograph of a lateral projection of the lumbar spine reveals that the mid- to lower-intervertebral joint spaces are not open.The patient's waist was supported and the CR was perpendicular to the IR.Which of the following modifications will help open these joint spaces during the repeat exposure?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Increasing waist support and/or angling the CR 5° to 8° caudad will help open the intervertebral joint spaces. This is because it will help separate the spinous processes and the intervertebral foramina, creating more space for the x-ray beam to pass through and visualize the joint spaces. Increasing the SID would actually increase divergence of the x-ray beam, making it less focused and less effective at visualizing the joint spaces. Decreasing waist support and/or angling the CR 5° to 8° cephalad would make the joint spaces more closed off, as the anatomy would be compressed rather than separated. Holding the breath may help reduce motion artifact, but it will not change the position of the anatomy or open up the joint spaces.

A Radiograph of a Lateral Projection of the Lumbar Spine