Femur X-ray positioning
How to position for each of the 3 femur X-ray views: where the patient goes, where to centre, which receptor and distance to use, and what a good image looks like.
By the ScanFlo Editorial Team · Updated
In this section · X-ray positioning
- X-ray positioning guides
- Skull positioning
- Face & sinuses positioning
- Soft tissue neck positioning
- C-spine positioning
- Chest positioning
- Shoulder positioning
- Humerus positioning
- Elbow positioning
- Forearm positioning
- Wrist positioning
- Hand positioning
- T-spine positioning
- Abdomen positioning
- L-spine positioning
- Sacrum & SI joints positioning
- Pelvis positioning
- Hip positioning
- Femur positioning
- Knee positioning
- Tibia & fibula positioning
- Ankle positioning
- Foot positioning
X-ray positioning/Femur
The routine femur views are Femur AP and Femur lateral. Femur lateral (after injury) comes in when you need to answer a particular question, or when the patient can't manage a routine view. Each guide walks you through the set-up step by step, with a short video, exposure settings for different patient sizes and what a good image should show.
A radiographer is still checking these guides.
Routine views
Extra views
All views in this region
- Femur AP
- Femur lateral
- Femur lateral (after injury)
Quick reference
Where to centre, how far and which receptor, for every femur view at a glance. Open a guide for the full set-up.
| Projection | Centre on | SID | Receptor | Breathing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Femur AP | the mid-shaft | 100 cm | 18×43 portrait, grid | Suspend respiration |
| Femur lateral | the mid-shaft | 100 cm | 18×43 portrait, grid | Suspend respiration |
| Femur lateral (after injury) | the mid-shaft | 100 cm | 18×43 portrait, grid | Suspend respiration |
Mistakes that lead to repeats
- Joint missed on the femur AP: take a second film for the other end.
- Other leg over the femur on the femur lateral: bend the other leg forward.
- Knee missed on the femur lateral (after injury): make sure the knee is on the film.
Common questions
- Which femur views are routine?
- Usually Femur AP and Femur lateral.
- What distance (SID) do femur X-rays use?
- 100 cm for every femur view here.
- Do femur X-rays need a grid?
- Yes, every view here is taken with a grid.
Try it in ScanFlo: the ScanFlo XR X-ray Room, coming soon, lets you set up every femur projection in a 3D room and score your positioning. See ScanFlo XR →