Hip X-ray positioning
How to position for each of the 5 hip 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
The routine hip views are Hip AP and Hip lateral (turned). Hip lateral (horizontal beam), Hip oblique lateral (suspected fracture) and Hips frog lateral come 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
- Hip AP
- Hip lateral (turned)
- Hip lateral (horizontal beam)
- Hip oblique lateral (suspected fracture)
- Hips frog lateral
Quick reference
Where to centre, how far and which receptor, for every hip view at a glance. Open a guide for the full set-up.
| Projection | Centre on | SID | Receptor | Breathing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip AP | the femoral neck, 2.5 cm below the mid-inguinal point | 100 cm | 24×30 portrait, grid | Suspend respiration |
| Hip lateral (turned) | the femoral neck | 100 cm | 24×30 portrait, grid | Suspend respiration |
| Hip lateral (horizontal beam) | the femoral neck | 120 cm | 24×30 portrait, grid | Suspend respiration |
| Hip oblique lateral (suspected fracture) | the femoral neck | 120 cm | 24×30 portrait, grid | Suspend respiration |
| Hips frog lateral | the symphysis | 100 cm | 35×43 landscape, grid | Suspend respiration |
Mistakes that lead to repeats
- Neck foreshortened on the hip AP: rotate in 15° unless injured.
- Used after injury on the hip lateral (turned): use the trauma laterals.
- Soft tissue of the other thigh over the neck on the hip lateral (horizontal beam): raise the uninjured leg.
- Neck not shown on the hip oblique lateral (suspected fracture): bring the holder down onto the trolley.
- Asymmetric abduction on the hips frog lateral: abduct both thighs equally.
Common questions
- Which hip views are routine?
- Usually Hip AP and Hip lateral (turned).
- What distance (SID) do hip X-rays use?
- Anywhere from 100 to 120 cm, depending on the view. Each guide gives the exact figure.
- Do hip 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 hip projection in a 3D room and score your positioning. See ScanFlo XR →