General introduction

• The process of reading a bone radiograph should be an active one, looking at cortical margins and bone alignment and looking for typical fracture patterns. Therefore, the habit of looking for abnormalities is more valuable than a passive look at the x-ray.
• Most radio graphic exams of the extremities are normal.
• Soft tissue abnormalities are valuable indirect signs of injury which can lead to diagnosis when osseous injuries are not apparent, especially in the elbow. Look at the soft tissues!
• Obtain at least two orthogonal projections of an injured area. Additional views should be pursued when there are uncertainties or in areas with complex anatomy.