For an AP mortise ankle radiograph, the foot should be rotated approximately how many degrees?

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Multiple Choice

For an AP mortise ankle radiograph, the foot should be rotated approximately how many degrees?

Explanation:
Rotating the foot medially about 15–20 degrees from the AP position opens the ankle mortise so the tibia, fibula, and talus align properly in the projection. This internal rotation brings the joint surfaces into a true view, reducing overlap and letting you assess the tibiofibular clear space and overall mortise congruity. If you rotate too little, the fibula can obscure parts of the tibia and the mortise won’t be adequately opened. If you rotate too much (around 25–30 degrees), the projection becomes overly oblique and distorts the joint spaces, making accurate assessment difficult. Therefore, 15–20 degrees is the best balance for an AP mortise ankle radiograph.

Rotating the foot medially about 15–20 degrees from the AP position opens the ankle mortise so the tibia, fibula, and talus align properly in the projection. This internal rotation brings the joint surfaces into a true view, reducing overlap and letting you assess the tibiofibular clear space and overall mortise congruity. If you rotate too little, the fibula can obscure parts of the tibia and the mortise won’t be adequately opened. If you rotate too much (around 25–30 degrees), the projection becomes overly oblique and distorts the joint spaces, making accurate assessment difficult. Therefore, 15–20 degrees is the best balance for an AP mortise ankle radiograph.

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