Which two views are standard for evaluating a suspected elbow fracture?

• A. AP and oblique views
• B. Lateral and oblique views
• C. AP and lateral views
• D. PA and lateral views

Answer: (C)

The essential idea is to evaluate the elbow from two different angles so fractures aren’t hidden by bone overlap. An AP (front-to-back) view provides a straight-on image of the distal humerus, radius, and ulna, letting you assess alignment, joint spaces, and fracture lines in that plane. A lateral (side) view gives a profile of the elbow, showing how the bones relate in a different orientation and helping you spot displacement, subtle fractures, and signs of joint effusion such as a posterior fat pad. Taken together, these two views in perpendicular planes maximize fracture detection and help assess dislocation. Additional oblique views can be added if a specific area needs clearer visualization, but the standard starting set is AP and lateral.