Diagnostics

Fort Wayne Orthopaedics offers the following diagnostic tools to aid our physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of your injuries:

Discogram
Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptometry (DEXA)
Electrodiagnostic Studies (EMG & NCS)
Facet Joint Blocks
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
X-ray

Discogram

An x-ray examination of the intervertebral discs, performed by injecting dye into the center of the injured disc(s). The dye makes the disc visible on an x-ray image. The discogram is used to help determine the cause of your back pain and whether or not you need surgery. You will be given medication to help you relax, then you will receive a local anesthetic. The procedure lasts about 40 minutes, and you will experience some discomfort, which will gradually disappear. You will be allowed to go home about 30 minutes after the discogram.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)

DEXA uses two different X-ray beams to estimate bone density in your spine and hip. The amounts of each X-ray beam that are blocked by bone and soft tissue are compared to each other. Bones with higher mineral density allow less of the X-ray beam to pass through them. DEXA can measure as little as 2% of bone loss per year.

Electrodiagnostic Studies (EMG & NCS)

Electrodiagnostic tests generally have two components: An electromyogram (EMG) and a nerve conduction study (NCS). These tests evaluate the physiology and functioning of the nerves and muscles and give information that complements the findings provided by x-rays and other scans. They cannot measure the pain that you may be experiencing but do give information about past or current damage to nerve fibers and how that damage affects muscles.

Facet Joint Blocks

Like other joints in the body, facet joints can cause pain when they are irritated or inflamed. The facet joint block is an injection to relieve pain or to provide a way to diagnose the origin of the pain. Prior to the procedure, you will receive an injection of xylocaine (a numbing medication) and possibly a steroid injection. The procedure takes less than one hour and you will be observed for a brief time after the injection. If the facet joint block is diagnostic for facet joint mediated pain, then a radio frequency ablation to the same area could be considered (as described below) to provide a more permanent solution for the pain.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

An imaging procedure that uses magnetic fields and computer technology to determine disc spaces, herniated discs or other spinal abnormalities. During the MRI, you must lie very still on your back from 30 minutes to one hour, possibly longer. An MRI is painless. The MRI machine makes a "knocking" sound while the images are captured.

X-Ray

A painless process that uses radioactive materials to capture images of bone and tissue. The length of the procedure depends on the type of image required. A trained x-ray technologist will be responsible for positioning you appropriately to capture the image.

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