Axillary projection in radiography of the nontraumatized shoulder

A series of 239 consecutive radiographic examinations of the shoulder performed on patients without acute trauma was analyzed prospectively. Each examination included anteroposterior projections with external and internal rotation of the humerous and an axillary projection. The abnormalities that could be identified on each view were listed separately. There were 109 normal examinations and 130 abnormal examinations. The anteroposterior view with external rotation identified 14 abnormalities not seen on the other views. The axillary projection identified 15 abnormalities not seen on other views. If only these two views had been obtained, 99.3% of the abnormalities would have been identified. The implications for altering routine film series are discussed.