Precision Fluroscopic Injections
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The fluoroscope is a powerful tool that is being used increasingly in the modern pain clinic for the precision diagnosis and treatment of persistent pain. During fluoroscopy, the patient is positioned between an x-ray source and a fluorescent screen. The live images generated by the x-ray source onto the fluorescent screen allow physicians to see the size, shape, and structure of a patient's internal bony structures.
Fluoroscopy and Pain Relief With the use of fluoroscopy, small doses of local anesthetic can be deposited directly onto specific anatomical structures to aid in pain diagnosis. If pain relief occurs, the injected structure may be identified as a pain generator and future injection therapy, physical therapy, or surgical intervention can be targeted accordingly. The use of fluoroscopy in pain treatment allows medications to be deposited more precisely onto the site of pathology. Benefits of Fluoroscopic Injections Fluoroscopic injection often allows invasive pain management to be performed with more comfort, fewer complications, and better results. Fluoroscopy in the pain clinic is useful for: Precise localization of pain-generating structures Guiding and documenting placement of medication even in patients with difficult anatomy Predicting the results of proposed surgical intervention Guiding surgical therapy Requiring Fluoroscopic Guidance Certain injections require fluoroscopy or some other form of x-ray guidance and cannot otherwise be performed. These injections include: Selective nerve root block Transforaminal epidural steroid injection Sacroiliac joint injection Lumbar sympathetic block Celiac ganglion block Spinal facet joint block Intervertebral disc injection Trigeminal block Neurolytic block Radiofrequency neuroablation At the Lansdale Pain Management Center, routine use of the most advanced fluoroscopes available improves our ability to accurately diagnose and effectively treat persistent pain. |