Forearm XRay

Aka: Forearm XRay, Radius and Ulna XRay, Forearm Radiograph

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II. Imaging: Standard Hand XRay Views

  1. Lateral View
    1. Includes elbow joint and proximal wrist joint
    2. Radius and ulna should overlap
    3. Proximal Landmarks at elbow
      1. Capitellum
      2. Trochlea
      3. Radial Head (should align with capitellum)
    4. Distal Landmarks near wrist
      1. Pisiform Bone
      2. Pronator quadratus fat stripe
      3. Distal Radioulnar Joint (DRUJ) should be aligned (radius and ulna overlap)
  2. Anterior-Posterior View (AP)
    1. Includes elbow joint and proximal wrist joint
    2. Landmarks
      1. Olecranon
      2. Radius is normally bowed away from ulna
      3. Distal radius and ulna
        1. Distal Radioulnar Joint (DRUJ)

III. Findings: Fractures

  1. See Forearm Fracture
  2. Distal Forearm at wrist
    1. See Distal Radius Fracture
    2. See Wrist Injury
    3. Adults
      1. Colles Fracture
      2. Smith's Fracture
    4. Children
      1. See Radial Epiphyseal Fracture
      2. Forearm Buckle Fracture (or Torus Fracture)
      3. Greenstick Forearm Fracture or complete Radius Fracture
  3. Mid-Shaft Fractures
    1. Combined Ulna and Radius Mid-Shaft Fractures
    2. Isolated Ulna mid-shaft Fracture
  4. Mid-Shaft Fracture Dislocations
    1. orthoForearmFxDislocate.jpg
    2. Galeazzi Fracture
    3. Monteggia Fracture
  5. Proximal Fractures at elbow
    1. Supracondylar Fracture of Humerus (most common in children)
    2. Radial Head Fracture (most common in adults

IV. References

  1. Tubbs and Janicki (2025) Adult Upper Extremity, Mastering Emergency Imaging, CCME, accessed 3/12/2026

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