Why is it important to carefully place weights (sandbags) when immobilizing a patient?

Careful placement of weights, such as sandbags, during the immobilization of a patient is crucial because they are often radiopaque. This means that they will appear on an X-ray image, potentially obscuring important anatomical structures or details that a healthcare professional needs to evaluate. If weights are placed in the wrong position, they can interfere with the clarity of the images and lead to misinterpretations or missed diagnoses.

This understanding is vital in radiology because achieving high-quality images is essential for accurate assessments and treatment planning. Other factors, such as the weights being difficult to reposition or needing to be balanced, are relevant considerations in practice but do not directly relate to the importance of their visibility on X-ray images. Radiolucent weights would not interfere with imaging in the same way, and while balancing the weights is necessary for effective immobilization, the primary concern in radiography remains the avoidance of obscuring critical anatomical information.