It’s important to have the right investigations to diagnose exactly what your problem is. Each different investigation has a specific purpose and is to either rule out or confirm a diagnosis. The various investigations that we use to determine a problem in the spine are set out below.
Plain X-Ray
Good for finding fractures, seeing the alignment of spinal hardware before and after surgery or seeing any bony abnormalities.
CT Scan
Shows bone density and tissue in detail and is taken in slices through the area. Good for looking at the discs in the spine and shows up herniated discs.
Nuclear Bone Scan
A bone scan can tell if there is a problem with your bones. It is done by injecting a radioactive dye into your bones so it will show up on the scan. It will show up abnormal bone growth, infection, metastases and things that other scans can’t see as clearly.
MRI Scan
This scan uses magnets instead of radiation. An MRI takes a clearer picture than an X-Ray or CT scan and is good for diagnosing problems in soft tissue like the discs in the spine and/or the spinal cord and nerves.
EOS Scan
This is a special type of X-Ray that checks the sagittal balance of the spine. As we age our spine changes and often people end up bent over. Dr Moloney can tailor your surgery to suit you specifically and get your spine in the best position for you. We can also get a good image of the longer construct more complex surgeries with an EOS Scan post operatively.
