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1. XRAY
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This is used to look at bones and joints. It can show if a bone is broken or there is arthritis in a joint, but does not clearly show damage to tissues surrounding the bones such as muscles and tendons. We have access to X-ray at the Esperance Private Hospital during normal working hours.
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2. CT SCAN
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This scan is particularly good at looking in more detail at bones, but can also give information about other tissues, such as the brain and the liver. As it allows bones to be looked at from angles that x-ray machines cannot take images from, it can give information in 2 or 3- dimension and therefore can give greater detail than x-rays. We have access to CT scanning facilities.
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3. MRI SCAN
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MRI scan is a relatively new method of imaging and is particularly good for giving information about muscles, ligaments and other soft tissue structures. It can for example be used to look at the ligaments in the knee to see if they have been damaged as the result of a knee injury. It is less useful for looking in detail at the structure of bone, as it is not able to show the detail that can be seen on a CT scan. We have access to MRI scanning facilities at the Eastbourne District General Hospital.
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4. ULTRASOUND SCAN
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This is the type of scan used to look at a baby in the womb. In diagnosing sports injuries, it can be used to look more closely at soft tissues. For example, the extent of a muscle tear can be measured or the nature of a lump may be identified. A muscle tear can also be monitored to see how quickly it is healing, which helps when planning the rehabilitation of a patient following an injury. We have an ultrasound machine at The Sussex Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, which can conveniently and cheaply be used to help in the diagnosis of some injuries without the patient having to go to another site. It is also a dynamic form of imaging where muscles and tendons can be seen moving.
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5. ISOTOPE BONE SCAN
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This is best used to look at the activity of cells within a bone. For example, when a stress fracture occurs in a bone, the 'turnover' of cells is increased and this shows upon a bone scan as a bright area. In the case of a stress fracture, this brightness may be identified long before a clear fracture line is seen on an x-ray. The scan requires the patient to be injected with a radioisotope. This is a compound, which attaches to the bone cells and the activity of these cells can be identified by using x-rays. Although increases in bone turnover can be identified using this scan, the exact cause for that increased activity may require further imaging, such as a CT scan.
We have access to isotope bone scanning facilities at the Eastbourne District General Hospital.
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