What should be included in the collimation for a lateral oblique elbow?

For a lateral oblique elbow, it is essential to include the elbow joint and surrounding soft tissues in the collimation. This approach allows for a comprehensive view of the anatomical structures that may be affected by injury or pathology, as well as any adjacent soft tissues that are clinically relevant. Including the soft tissues ensures that any potential injuries, such as those to ligaments or muscles, are evaluated properly and that all pertinent anatomy is visible in the image.

Focusing on just the elbow joint does not provide sufficient context for assessing the entire area, which could lead to missed injuries. Collimating to the distal radius and ulna only would also be inadequate, as it ignores the critical structures at the elbow itself. Lastly, collocating to the entire arm is excessive and can decrease image quality due to unnecessary radiation exposure and increase the amount of scatter, which may obscure the relevant anatomical details that need to be assessed. Therefore, the best practice in this scenario is to include both the elbow joint and its surrounding soft tissues in the collimation.