You will wait about 5 minutes until the X-rays are processed in case more pictures need to be taken. How long the test takesĪ spinal X-ray usually takes about 15 minutes. The patient should be asked to stop breathing when the. You need to lie very still to avoid blurring the pictures. The patient should be positioned so that he or she is at a 45-degree angle to the cassette holder. If you have a neck brace (cervical collar) in place, X-ray pictures may be taken and a physical examination done to see whether the brace can be taken off without hurting the spine. This is done to prevent causing more injury. If the X-ray is being taken because of a possibly serious injury to your neck or back, a radiologist will look at the first X-ray pictures before taking others. You may be allowed to keep on your underwear if it does not get in the way of the test.ĭuring the X-ray test, you will lie on an X-ray table. You will be given a cloth or paper gown to use during the test. You may need to take off some of your clothes, depending on which area is examined. The x-ray should be repeated, perhaps using special views such as the. Fractures or subluxation at these locations would be missed. B, The image is inadequate because C1 and T1 are not seen fully. You will need to remove any jewellery that may be in the way of the X-ray picture. A, An adequate lateral cervical spine x-ray, showing the entire cervical spine and its cephalad border (the skull base) and caudad border (T1). The most common spinal X-rays are of the cervical vertebrae (C-spine films) and lumbosacral vertebrae (LS-spine films). It takes a detailed view of the 5 fused bones at the bottom of the spine (sacrum) and the 4 small bones of the tailbone (coccyx). It takes pictures of the 5 bones of the lower back (lumbar vertebrae) and a view of the 5 fused bones at the bottom of the spine (sacrum). It takes pictures of the 12 chest (thoracic) bones.

It takes pictures of the 7 neck (cervical) bones. So there are four common types of spinal X-rays: Cervical spine X-ray. X-rays can be used to diagnose a disease, monitor the progression of the disease. The X-ray can help a physician find a cause for the problems occurring. Spinal X-rays are also done to check the curve of your spine ( scoliosis) or for spinal defects. A cervical spine and neck X-ray is used to view the area of the body where a patient is experiencing pain, swelling, or other abnormalities that require an internal view of the organs. These problems may include spinal fractures, infections, dislocations, tumours, bone spurs, or disc disease. They may be taken to find injuries or diseases that affect the discs or joints in your spine.

Normal cervical spine x rays