Imaging Services
Imaging services include:
- Radiography of all parts of the body apart from breasts (mammography)
- CT of all areas of the body
- MRI of all areas of the body
- Ultrasound of all areas of the body with exception of the heart, endorectal or endovaginal ultrasound
- Special expertise in musculoskeletal ultrasound
Interventional services
A broad range of interventional procedures of the musculoskeletal system including diagnostic and therapeutic injections (to localise and treat a pain source), aspiration, drainage, biopsy, cementoplasty, cryo- and radiofrequency ablation of painful areas and primary and secondary tumours.
Musculoskeletal imaging and interventional services by region:
Spine:
- Myelography
- Discography
- Facet joint injections (for pain)
- Nerve root injection (for pain)
- Cryoablation of facet joints (for pain)
- Vertebroplasty
- Biopsies
- Radiofrequency (RF) ablation
Joints:
- Arthrography
- Joint injections (for pain treatment and diagnostic purposes): large and small joints including shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, foot joints
Tendons:
- Tendon sheath injections (for inflammation)
- Tendon sheath aspiration (diagnostic)
- Tendon origin injection (for pain) i.e. for tennis elbow
Other:
- Plantar fascia injection (for pain)
- Mortons neuroma injection (for pain)
- Aspiration and injection of bursa/bursitis
Tumours:
- Biopsy
- Radiofrequency ablation (for treatment, i.e. Osteoid Osteoma, Chondroblastoma, metastases)
- Cement injection (for pain, to prevent fracture)
Injections, aspirations, drainages and biopsies are performed using image guidance, i.e. fluoroscopy (x-rays), ultrasound and CT. The choice of imaging procedure will depend on the circumstances of each case individually. Generally bone (including spine) and joint procedures are performed using fluoroscopy (x-rays) and CT, soft tissue procedures are being performed using ultrasound and CT.
Procedures are performed in local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia (by Consultant Anaesthetists).