Quick question from last night’s ER read: 28 kg Lab, right lateral and VD on portable DR (70 kVp, 5 mAs) showed two sharp lucent lines over ribs 5–6 that screamed nondisplaced fractures, but they vanished on the left lateral. I’m leaning summation/skin fold — no cortical step, margins too smooth — but when you can’t sedate for obliques, what quick positioning or acquisition tweaks do you rely on to confirm before putting “fracture” in the report?
I’ve seen similar cases where positioning can make a big difference; consider using a raised forelimb technique to help visualize if you can’t get obliques. It’s worked for me in tight spaces; have you tried adjusting the angle a bit to see if those lines reappear?
I get that rush! We’ve had great luck using online pre-check-in forms, which lets clients fill out everything while they’re waiting. It’s saved us a ton of time in the morning.