Radiology

SOURCE: ACA News

By Caitlin Lukacs

Technological progress is not reserved for cell phones and iPads. Advanced imaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have benefited from recent advances as well. In fact, MRI has become the gold standard of advanced imaging for the spine and extremity joints. “It’s hard to do anything in medicine without imaging,” says Norman Kettner, DC, DACBR, professor of clinical science and chairman of the Department of Radiology at Logan College of Chiropractic. “In fact, in a survey of the top 25 internists in the United States, MRI and CT scans were rated No. 1 as the most important development in medical science in the previous century.

What Is MRI?

Gary Longmuir, DC, DACBR, clinical radiologist and president of the ACA Council on Diagnostic Imaging, explains that MRIs create images of the internal structures of the body based on the energy released from hydrogen protons. Because the body is largely made up of water and each water molecule contains two hydrogen protons, when a person enters the magnetic field created by the MRI scanner, the magnetic charges of the protons change and align with the direction of the scanner’s field. When the field is then turned off, the protons return to their original energy state, releasing the energy difference as photons that are detected by the scanner as a “signal” similar to a radio wave. The protons of distinct tissues return to their original energy states at different rates, and this difference is detected by the MRI scanner.

DCs and MRI (more…)

The Pediatric Elbow: A Review of Fractures

By Frank M. Painter|June 18, 2011|Pediatrics, Radiology|

The Pediatric Elbow: A Review of Fractures

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: Dynamic Chiropractic

By Deborah Pate, DC, DACBR

The elbow fracture is one of the most common fractures in children. Assessing the elbow for fracture can be difficult because of the changing anatomy of the growing skeleton and the subtlety of some of these fractures.

It’s important to be aware of the radiographic signs of fracture in the elbow, along with knowing the appearance and fusion of the ossification centers in the pediatric patient, to avoid confusing an ossification center with a fracture fragment. Of course, alignment and radiographic positioning are also extremely important in making a diagnostic assessment.

Diagram of a distended joint capsule
with the fat pads displaced.

When reviewing an X-ray study for trauma, it’s best to have a methodical way of viewing the study. Perform (at the very least) two views of the elbow at 90° to each other, AP and lateral. Positioning is very important, particularly in the growing skeleton. Alignment of the joint cannot be assessed unless the positioning is accurate.

The two most common errors in positioning are: 1) elbow is lower than the shoulder, which projects the capitellum onto the ulna; and 2) elbow is higher than the wrist, which will make the capitellum and the head of the radius appear anterior, and the epicondyle appear posterior, making it difficult to assess the alignment. In a true lateral view, the elbow and the shoulder should be in the same plane and the wrist should be higher than the elbow to compensate for the normal valgus position of the elbow. The thumb should be up to keep the radius from rotating. (more…)

Radiology

MRI Update

MRI Update

The Pediatric Elbow: A Review of Fractures

The Pediatric Elbow: A Review of Fractures