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Neck X-ray How the Test is Performed:
The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider's office by an X-ray technician. You will be asked to lie on the X-ray table and assume various positions. If the X-ray is to determine injury, care will be taken to prevent further injury. The X-ray machine will be positioned over the neck area. One may be asked to hold the breath as the picture is taken so that the picture will not be blurry. Usually 3 to 7 pictures are taken.
How to Prepare:
Inform the health care provider if you are pregnant . Remove all jewelry.
Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
How it Feels:
There is no discomfort, however the table may be cold.
Risks:
There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits. Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of the X-ray .
Why this Test is Performed:
The X-ray is used to evaluate neck injuries and persistent numbness , pain, or weakness .
Normal Values:
The X-ray will show normal structures for the age of the patient.
Abnormal Results:
The test will detect abnormalities such as fractures , dislocations, thinning of the bone ( osteoporosis ), and deformities in the curvature of the spine. The test may also detect bone spurs, disc problems, and degeneration of the vertebrae.
Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
Cost:
The estimated cost is $40 to $70.
Special Considerations:
Not applicable.
Bone X-rays are a rapid way of determining the presence of fractures, dislocations, and other types of bone abnormalities. The procedure has the advantage of being painless and exposing the patient to only a small amount of radiation.
The spine is divided into several sections. The cervical vertebrae make up the neck. The thoracic vertebrae comprise the chest section and have ribs attached. The lumbar vertebrae are the remaining vertebrae below the last thoracic bone and the top of the sacrum. The sacral vertebrae are caged within the bones of the pelvis, and the coccyx represents the terminal vertebrae or vestigial tail.
These are the seven bones of the neck, called the cervical vertebra. The top bone, seen on the right of this picture, is called the atlas, and is where the head attaches to the neck. The second bone is called the axis, upon which the head and atlas rotate. The vertebra are numbered from one to seven from the atlas down, and are referred to as C1, C2, C3, etc.
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