X-ray - skeleton
Definition
A skeletal
Alternative Names
Skeletal survey
How the Test is Performed
The test is done in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider's office by an x-ray technologist.
You will lie on a table or stand in front of the x-ray machine, depending on the bone that is injured. You may be asked to change position so that different x-ray views can be taken.
The x-ray particles pass through the body. A computer or special film records the images.
Structures that are dense (such as bone) will block most of the x-ray particles. These areas will appear white. Metal and contrast media (special dye used to highlight areas of the body) will also appear white. Structures containing air will be black. Muscle, fat, and fluid will appear as shades of gray.
How to Prepare for the Test
Tell the provider if you are pregnant. You must remove all jewelry before the x-ray.
How the Test will Feel
The x-rays are painless. Changing positions and moving the injured area for different x-ray views may be uncomfortable. If the whole skeleton is being imaged, the test most often takes 1 hour or more.
Why the Test is Performed
This test is used to look for:
- Fractures or broken bone
- Cancer that has spread to other areas of the body
Osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone caused by an infection)- Bone damage due to trauma (such as an auto accident) or degenerative conditions
- Abnormalities in the soft tissue around the bone
What Abnormal Results Mean
Abnormal findings include:
- Fractures
Bone tumors - Degenerative bone conditions
- Osteomyelitis
Risks
There is low radiation exposure. X-rays machines are set to provide the smallest amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits.
Children and the fetuses of pregnant women are more sensitive to the risks of the x-ray. A protective shield may be worn over areas not being scanned.
References
Bearcroft PWP, Hopper MA. Imaging techniques and fundamental observations for the musculoskeletal system. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 6th ed. New York, NY: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2015:chap 45.
Contreras F, Perez J, Jose J. Imaging overview. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR. eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 7.
Review Date: 05/13/2019
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