X-Rays
X-rays of the hand, wrist, arm, foot, ankle, knee, or leg help determine whether a bone has been fractured, injured, or damaged by conditions such as an infection, arthritis, or other disease.
Other reasons for conventional X-rays on your feet include
- Evaluate changes in the bones caused by such things as an infection, arthritis, or other bone disease
- Help evaluate whether a child's bones are growing normally
- Locate foreign objects (such as pieces of glass or metal) in a wound
- To determine whether bones are properly set after treating a fracture and placing a cast on an arm or leg.
Pregnant women, especially those in their first trimester, are advised against having a CT exam or any X-ray examination. Extremity X-rays usually take only five to 10 minutes.
While extremity X-rays do a good job showing bone fractures or dislocations, they are not very accurate when it comes to showing affected cartilage, tendons, or ligaments. A MRI or CT scan may be prescribed.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a very effective tool for treating and diagnosing a wide variety of foot and ankle problems. This is especially true for soft tissue problems.
Common problems for which ultrasound may be prescribed include
- Bursitis
- Heel spurs or plantar fasciitis
- Injuries of the ligaments, tendons, or cartilage
- Morton's neuroma
- Presence of foreign bodies
- Soft tissue masses
- Tarsal tunnel syndrome (A nerve entrapment condition in the ankle, similar to carpal tunnel in the wrist.)
- Tendonitis or tears in a tendon
Ultrasound uses sound waves on the body in a way much like radar uses sound waves. The waves hit a targeted area and are bounced back to a recording device, which produces an image based on a set of transmitted waves.
Ultrasound is a completely safe and painless diagnostic procedure. Foot Specialists of Cedar Park & Georgetown
Tel: (512) 259–3338
(512) 930–0707
E-mail: info@austinfeet.com
Website: www.austinfeet.com
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