Extremity X-ray: Why It Is Done
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Why It Is Done
Extremity X-rays are done to:
- Find the cause of pain in an extremity.
- See if your bone is fractured or your joint is dislocated.
- See if fluid has built up in the joint or around a bone.
- See if your bones are positioned properly after treatment for a fracture or dislocation, such as after placing a cast or splint on an arm or leg. An X-ray also may be done after a doctor places a device such as a pin or an artificial joint in a bone.
- Find changes in your bones caused by conditions such as an infection, arthritis, bone growths (tumors), or other bone diseases. See pictures of osteoarthritis of the hip
and osteoarthritis of the knee . - Find foreign objects such as pieces of glass or metal.
- Check to see if a child's bones are growing normally.
- See if your bones and joints are in the correct position after joint replacement surgery.
| Last updated: | April 24, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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