Vail • Summit Orthopaedics offers the latest in diagnostic and non-operative treatment technologies. We use a variety of procedures to diagnose and treat our patients. We are committed to staying current on new technologies that can help us diagnose problems quickly and more accurately.
Orthopaedics concerns all aspects of health care pertaining to the musculoskeletal system-bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, skin and any related structures. Sports Medicine is the orthopaedic care of sports related injuries and the supervised rehabilitation to the patient's specific ability. We treat people of all ages who have a variety of injuries and conditions, including: arthritis, foot & ankle problems, fractures, hand injuries, hip disorders, joint replacement, knee injuries, shoulder disorders, and spine problems.
MRI
What is MRI?
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It is a state-of-the-art technique for viewing internal details of your body without exposing you to X-ray radiation. Most importantly, it is painless.
What makes an MRI work?
The majority of your body is made up of hydrogen (water) atoms. MRI is a technology that uses a magnetic field to align all of these atoms to produce signals which are converted to images of the inside of your body.
Why do I need an MRI?
MRI is a painless way for your doctor to obtain information about your body that will aid in diagnosis and treatment. It allows your radiologist and your physician to see certain types of tissue that provides important information about your brain, spine, joints, or internal organs. Early detection and treatment of a condition is often why doctors request this procedure.
What do I need to do before an MRI?
Generally, you will not need to make any special preparations. Certain conditions may prevent you from having an MRI examination. Please let your doctor and the MRI technologist know if you have any of the following conditions:
- Pacemaker
- Pregnancy
- Inner ear implants
- Aneurysm clip
- Dental bridges
- Metallic implants
- Claustrophobia
- History as a metal worker
What will I experience during my MRI?
When you arrive a technologist will ask you to remove anything metallic,
such as a hearing aid, dentures, or jewelry. Wear something comfortable.
You will be asked to lie down on the examination table, usually on your back. The table will slide into the opening and you will hear a quiet knocking noise and the hum of the machine. You will be asked to lie as still as possible. We will provide a CD player and earphones for your comfort. You may bring your own music or choose something from our selection. The exam usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. Our technologist will be available to you throughout the procedure to answer any questions you may have.
What happens after my MRI?
Your images will be sent electronically to a radiologist and your physician for immediate viewing. We can also make your scan available to you and/or your doctor on CD-ROM if that is more convenient. Your physician's staff will contact you to make an appointment for you to discuss the results of your MRI with your doctor. In the meantime, you are free to resume your normal activities unless your doctor has instructed you otherwise.
Electrodiagnosis
When muscles are active and receiving messages from the nerves, they produce an electrical current. Electrodiagnosis is used to assess nerve and muscle function by measuring this current. Abnormal muscle activity can be a signal of pinched nerves or nerve damage. Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) measures the speed of a nerve impulse by stimulating the nerves with small electrodes on the skin's surface, and recording the reaction on an oscilloscope. An electromyogram (EMG) involves inserting a needle electrode into the muscle being measured and displaying the activity.
NCV and EMG are available at our Edwards and Frisco clinics.
Non-Operative Spine Treatment
Epidural steroid injections are used to ease the pain and inflammation caused by many spinal disk problems. This procedure uses an image intensifier to guide our physician's needle placement of medication to the exact location of the disk injury.
X-Ray
X-Rays are still the most efficient way to look at bones to detect fractures or other problems. Our X-Ray suites in the Edwards, Vail and Frisco clinics allow for maximum patient comfort and quick results.
