Shoulder X-ray
A shoulder x-ray shows bone: dislocation, fracture, arthritis, and calcium deposits. It is worth knowing that it cannot show a torn rotator cuff, because the tendons are soft tissue — so a normal shoulder film is a common result, and often the first of two imaging bills.
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What it is
The shoulder is a shallow ball-and-socket joint held in place mostly by tendons and muscle rather than by bone, which is why it is both the most mobile joint in the body and the one most likely to come out of its socket. An x-ray is very good at the bone half of that story — whether the ball is sitting in the socket, whether the collarbone or the top of the arm bone is broken, whether the joint has worn down, whether a spur has grown, whether a deposit of calcium has formed in a tendon. It is blind to the tendons themselves. For shoulder pain without an injury, that limitation is the point: the film is taken to rule out the bone causes and to guide whether an ultrasound or MRI is worth doing next.
Why it is done
- To confirm a dislocation and, after it has been put back, to confirm the ball is seated again
- To find a fracture of the upper arm bone, the collarbone, or the shoulder blade after a fall or a direct blow
- To assess arthritis — narrowing of the joint, changes in the bone, spurs
- To look for a calcium deposit in a tendon, a recognized cause of sudden, severe shoulder pain
- To rule out bone causes of shoulder pain before deciding whether an MRI or an ultrasound of the tendons is needed
What to expect
The patient usually stands or sits with the back or the side against the imaging plate, and the arm is rotated between exposures so the top of the arm bone is seen from more than one direction. Some views ask for the arm to be held in a position that can be awkward with a painful shoulder. The appointment is short — typically five to ten minutes in the room, with the technologist stepping behind a screen for each exposure. No preparation, no recovery. A radiologist issues the formal report.
Questions worth asking
- If the film is expected to be normal and an MRI or ultrasound is the test that will actually answer the question, can I get a price for both before agreeing to the first?
- How many views are being taken, and does the code billed match that number?
- Is this being ordered in an orthopaedic office with its own machine, or sent to a hospital department with a facility fee attached?
- Will there be a separate professional charge for the radiologist's reading, on top of the charge for taking the films?
- If the shoulder is x-rayed again after a reduction or a procedure the same day, is that a second billable study?
What Shoulder X-ray costs by state
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Texas — 109 hospitals, median $339.50
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Florida — 82 hospitals, median $737.87
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Ohio — 67 hospitals, median $427.20
- Shoulder X-ray cost in California — 66 hospitals, median $509.60
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Illinois — 51 hospitals, median $447.12
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Virginia — 43 hospitals, median $298.00
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Tennessee — 38 hospitals, median $112.24
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Pennsylvania — 33 hospitals, median $330.40
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Wisconsin — 33 hospitals, median $315.48
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Iowa — 29 hospitals, median $322.13
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Michigan — 27 hospitals, median $389.44
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Indiana — 26 hospitals, median $391.20
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Georgia — 25 hospitals, median $380.30
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Washington — 25 hospitals, median $264.48
- Shoulder X-ray cost in New Jersey — 23 hospitals, median $97.54
- Shoulder X-ray cost in New York — 23 hospitals, median $104.19
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Arizona — 22 hospitals, median $115.24
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Kentucky — 22 hospitals, median $617.52
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Missouri — 21 hospitals, median $247.50
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Minnesota — 19 hospitals, median $274.40
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Oklahoma — 18 hospitals, median $391.95
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Colorado — 17 hospitals, median $1,268.06
- Shoulder X-ray cost in West Virginia — 17 hospitals, median $378.00
- Shoulder X-ray cost in North Carolina — 15 hospitals, median $279.28
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Nebraska — 13 hospitals, median $292.99
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Oregon — 13 hospitals, median $246.75
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Kansas — 11 hospitals, median $493.35
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Mississippi — 11 hospitals, median $105.30
- Shoulder X-ray cost in South Carolina — 11 hospitals, median $308.50
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Arkansas — 10 hospitals, median $348.40
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Maine — 7 hospitals, median $421.90
- Shoulder X-ray cost in South Dakota — 7 hospitals, median $378.40
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Alaska — 5 hospitals, median $656.76
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Nevada — 4 hospitals, median $509.22
- Shoulder X-ray cost in North Dakota — 4 hospitals, median $240.00
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Wyoming — 4 hospitals, median $312.58
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Hawaii — 2 hospitals, median $188.80
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Maryland — 2 hospitals, median $89.40
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Montana — 2 hospitals, median $182.40
- Shoulder X-ray cost in New Mexico — 2 hospitals, median $293.58
- Shoulder X-ray cost in Louisiana — 1 hospitals, median $132.60
- Shoulder X-ray cost in New Hampshire — 1 hospitals, median $411.95
Shoulder X-ray prices at hospitals
- Shoulder X-ray at Banner North Colorado Medical Center - Loveland Campus, Loveland — $57.73
- Shoulder X-ray at Mercy Health Love County Rural Health Clinic, MARIETTA — $66.00
- Shoulder X-ray at 82-3844150 BMH Crittenden, West Memphis — $68.70
- Shoulder X-ray at Mercy Primary Care - Bernie, Bernie — $72.00
- Shoulder X-ray at Banner Goldfield Medical Center, Apache Junction — $73.72
- Shoulder X-ray at 64-0362400 Anderson Regional Main Campus, Meridian — $73.92
- Shoulder X-ray at Dickenson Community Hospital, CLINTWOOD — $75.21
- Shoulder X-ray at Hancock County Hospital, SNEEDVILLE — $75.21
- Shoulder X-ray at Johnson County Community Hospital, MOUNTAIN CITY — $75.21
- Shoulder X-ray at Lee County Community Hospital, PENNINGTON GAP — $75.21
- Shoulder X-ray at Bristol Regional Medical Center, BRISTOL — $76.35
- Shoulder X-ray at Franklin Woods Community Hospital, JOHNSON CITY — $76.35
- Shoulder X-ray at Greeneville Community Hospital, GREENEVILLE — $76.35
- Shoulder X-ray at Hawkins County Memorial Hospital, ROGERSVILLE — $76.35
- Shoulder X-ray at Holston Valley Medical Center, KINGSPORT — $76.35
- Shoulder X-ray at Indian Path Community Hospital, KINGSPORT — $76.35
- Shoulder X-ray at Johnson City Medical Center, JOHNSON CITY — $76.35
- Shoulder X-ray at Lonesome Pine Hospital, BIG STONE GAP — $76.35
- Shoulder X-ray at Johnston Memorial Hospital, ABINGDON — $76.35
- Shoulder X-ray at Russell County Hospital, LEBANON — $76.35
See every published price for Shoulder X-ray: the full national range, the state and hospital breakdowns, and which hospitals charge the least.
Shoulder X-ray cost — see all prices →Sources
- OrthoInfo (AAOS): Rotator Cuff Tears (opens in a new tab, leaves healthcosts.net)
- RadiologyInfo (RSNA/ACR): X-ray (Radiography) - Bone (opens in a new tab, leaves healthcosts.net)
- Wikipedia (opens in a new tab, leaves healthcosts.net)