New at Perimeter Orthopaedics! O-Scan dedicated MRI for Extremities
Diagnosing your injuries just became more accurate, faster and easier at Perimeter Orthopaedics. Our new MRI, conveniently located in our clinic, provides our patients with high resolution imaging without having to go off site. The O-Scan Dedicated MRI for Extremities covers limbs and joints, including the ankle, knee, calf, foot, hand, wrist, and elbow. This new imaging equipment allows our physicians to closely view soft tissue injuries, as well as damage to muscles, tendons and cartilage, including strains, tears and inflammation that can’t be seen on a traditional X-Ray. The open design and reclining patient chair provides a relaxing, comfortable, non-claustrophobic experience, and there is no harmful radiation for which to be concerned.
Immediately diagnose knee injuries:
- ACL injuries
- Meniscal tears
- Tendinitis
- Bursitis
Evaluate damage to foot & ankle:
- Tendon injuries such as Achilles tendinitis
- Ligament injuries such as ankle sprains and strains
- Reveal infection, abscess and osteomyelitis (infection of the bone)
Our O-Scan MRI is one more imaging tool in addition to X-Ray and CT imaging with PedCAT™ all available on site at Perimeter Orthopaedics.
Step into Standing CT and get the most accurate diagnosis for your injury
Perimeter Orthopaedics is the only practice in North Atlanta that offers true 3d weight bearing CT imaging of the foot and ankle. PedCAT™ scans allow Dr. Paul Spiegl to view his patient’s foot and ankle abnormalities in their normal standing position providing for a more accurate analysis.
Computed Tomography
Sometimes physicians prescribe a computed tomography (CT) examination (also known as a "CAT scan") to help diagnose and treat various medical conditions. A CT is a kind of X-ray device that takes cross sectional images of a part of the body, giving the physician a three-dimensional image:
Common problems a CT exam can address include: arthritis, deformities, flat feet, foreign bodies, fractures, infection, and tumors. CT scans are often superior to conventional X-rays because they can more accurately pinpoint a suspected problem.
Pregnant women, especially those in their first trimester, are advised against having a CT exam or any X-ray examination.
X-Rays
X-rays of the hand, wrist, arm, foot, ankle, knee, shoulder, or leg help determine whether a bone has been fractured, injured or damaged by conditions such as an infection, arthritis, or other disease.
Other reasons for conventional X-rays include:
- Evaluate changes in the bones caused by such things as an infection, arthritis, or other bone disease.
- Help evaluate whether a child's bones are growing normally.
- Locate foreign objects (such as pieces of glass or metal) in a wound.
- To determine whether bones are properly set after treating a fracture and placing a cast on an arm or leg.
Extremity X-rays usually takes only five to ten minutes.
While extremity X-rays do a good job showing bone fractures or dislocations, they are not very accurate when it comes to showing affected cartilage, tendons, or ligaments. An MRI or CT scan may be prescribed.
Pregnant women, especially those in their first trimester, are advised against having a CT exam or any X-ray examination.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Magnetic resonance imaging is a sophisticated diagnostic procedure to diagnose the following kinds of problems or conditions:
- Arthritis
- Fractures
- Infection
- Injuries of the tendons, ligaments, or cartilage.
- Tumors
MRIs use no radiation like conventional X-rays or CT scans. They employ a large magnet and radio waves to produce a kind of three-dimensional image. MRIs are very good at portraying soft tissues and bones in your body.
People with the following conditions may NOT be good candidates for an MRI:
- A condition that requires a heart pacemaker.
- Electronic inner ear implants.
- Electronic stimulators.
- Implanted pumps.
- Metal fragments in your eyes.
- Some artificial heart valves.
- Surgical clips in your head (particularly aneurysm clips).
If you have a dental filling or bridge, a replacement hip or knee, or tubal ligation clips, you are usually safe to have an MRI. In most cases, a full exam lasts approximately one hour.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a very effective tool for treating and diagnosing a wide variety of problems. This is especially true for soft tissue problems.
Common problems for which ultrasound may be prescribed include:
- Heel spurs or plantar fasciitis.
- Injuries of the ligaments, tendons, or cartilage.
- Morton's neuroma.
- Presence of foreign bodies.
- Soft tissue masses.
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome.
- Tendinitis or tears in a tendon.
Ultrasound uses sound waves on the body in a way much like radar uses sound waves. The waves hit a targeted area and are bounced back to a recording device, which produces an image based on a set of transmitted waves.
Ultrasound is a completely safe and painless diagnostic procedure.
