Positioning Of C Spine

Question 1

C-spine techniques for AP projections

Answer 1

80@ 10 mAs

Question 2

C-spine techniques for lateral projection

Answer 2

80@20 mAs

Question 3

C1

Answer 3

Mastoid tip

Question 4

C3

Answer 4

Gonion (angle of jaw)

Question 5

C4/5

Answer 5

Laryngeal prominence

Question 6

C7/T1

Answer 6

Vertebral prominences (bump at base of neck)

Question 7

T2/3

Answer 7

Jugular notch

Question 8

Routines for C-spine

Answer 8

• Lateral
• 15 degree AP axial
• AP open mouth (odontoid)
• AP/PA 15 degree axial oblique

Question 9

Lateral C-spine

Answer 9

• turn on tracking
• 180 SID
• 24 X 30 lightfield
• place patient in true left lateral
• rotate collimator to run with neck (tilt it towards face)
• align CR @ level of thyroid cartilage (adams apple)
• top of light including EAM, bottom of light at C7 (bump at base of neck)
• depress shoulders (reach for toes)
• go behind patient to feel back of neck (make sure it is straight) by feeling mastoid tip and get pt to move jaw forward slightly
• marker by chin shadow (anterior, face side)
• collimator to soft tissue
• suspend respiration at end of exhalation

Question 10

AP axial c-spine

Answer 10

• 110 SID
• 24 X 30 lightfield
• angle tube 15 degrees cephalad
• CR centered at laryngeal prominence (adams apple)
• top of light finger width above chin and finger of light below jug notch
• mastoid tip and chin should be in line, a line that’s parallel to top of light
• make sure tube and detector are in line
• collimate to sides of soft tissues
• suspend respiration at end of exhalation

Question 11

AP open mouth (odontiod)

Answer 11

• 110 SID
• 10 X 10 lightfield
• set a light field of 10 X 10 and place marker in an upper lateral corner
• turn on tracking, make sure mouth is centered in light
• ask patient to open mouth and move light field to place crosshairs at level of corner of mouth
• tell patient to close mouth
• stand at side of patient and get them to smile and check that bottom of incisors is in line with mastoid tip
• “without moving your head can you please drop your jaw and hold your breath” hold patients jaw to make sure only it moves
• collimate to sides of soft tissue

Question 12

AP/PA axial oblique

Answer 12

• 110 SID
• 24 X 30 lightfield
• angle tube 15 degrees cephalad
• rotate collimator to match angle of neck (rotate towards face), and place marker in chin shadow
• have patient standing at 45 degrees with neck in lateral position
• CR @ laryngeal prominence (adams apple)
• top of light including EAM and bottom of light at C7 (bump at bottom of neck)
• jut out chin so it is off the spine
• suspend respiration at end of exhalation
• make sure tube and detector are in line
• collimate to sides of soft tissue