In the PA oblique view, the patient holds the hand at about 45° with respect to the cassette, and fans the fingers so that they are well separated, with minimal overlap in the final radiograph.

In both the PA and PA oblique views, the scaphoid bone is not well isolated from the other carpal bones; it is superimposed on them. Scaphoid fractures are fairly common, so if there is concern about a possible scaphoid fracture, a different view is needed (what wrist position would move the other carpal bones away from the scaphoid in the PA view?).