Which projection is commonly used to evaluate the hip for suspected fracture when the patient cannot rotate?

• A. AP pelvis view
• B. Cross-table lateral hip view
• C. Frog-leg lateral hip view
• D. Chimney view

Answer: (B)

When a hip fracture is suspected and the patient cannot be rotated, the cross-table lateral hip projection is used because it gives a true lateral view of the proximal femur and hip joint without moving the patient. The patient stays supine, a horizontal beam is centered at the hip, and the unaffected leg is moved out of the field. This setup reveals fracture lines and displacement of the femoral neck or intertrochanteric region and can show occult injuries that AP views might miss. The other views require rotation or flexion—frog-leg needs hip abduction and flexion, and the chimney view and a standard AP pelvis don’t provide the same direct lateral detail of the proximal femur when movement is limited.