Orthopedic Imaging Specialists in Nashville

Medical imaging allows your orthopedic surgeon to examine the internal structures of your body. The team at Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics uses various imaging tests, such as:

Orthopedic X-ray

X-rays are a type of energy, similar to the light you see but with a higher energy frequency. The different tissues in your body stop the X-rays at different levels depending on the density of the tissue. Bone stops more X-ray than muscle, causing dense materials like a bone to show up as white while fat and muscles appear much darker. 

Typically, four images per body part is sufficient to see what is needed. Images acquired for orthopedics are typically different than what a hospital would acquire.

Orthopedic MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) creates more detailed images of the specific body part in question than an X-ray. During an orthopedic MRI procedure, a magnetic field temporarily realigns the water molecules present throughout your body. Then, radio waves cause these aligned molecules to release signals that a computer uses to produce an image.

Medical imaging provides the team at Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics with critical information about your bones and soft tissues. They use X-ray and MRIs to help them diagnose and treat many injuries and illnesses, including:

• Arthritis
• Shoulder pain
• Knee pain
• Foot and ankle pain
• Fractures
• Hip pain
• Hand and upper extremity pain
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
• Medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears 
• Other ligament and tendon tears
• Cartilage tears
• Tendonitis
• Rotator cuff tears
• Back pain and neck pain

An X-ray can provide a clear image of bone and joint abnormalities, including fractures, bone spurs, and a narrowing of the space within a joint. MRIs provide detailed pictures of your soft tissues, like cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.

X-rays and MRIs are painless and noninvasive tests that involve exposure to a very low level of radiation. Before an X-ray or MRI, you may need to remove any jewelry or metal accessories, like belts or hair clips.

During an X-ray, the technician positions you to get a clear view of the treatment area. You stay still for a few seconds for each image while the technologist captures the image.

An MRI scan takes about 25-35 minutes and involves laying on a table that slides into a large tube. The machine creates a strong magnetic field around you as you listen to your favorite music. 

Before an MRI, it’s crucial to let the team at Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics know about any device or metal in your body, such as a pacemaker or bullet shrapnel. Although your device may be MRI-compatible, it may not be compatible with the body part the they are scanning.

It is necessary that you wear earplugs and/or headphones during an MRI scan to protect your ears. 

For more information about imaging procedures, call Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics or book an appointment online.