Orthopedic Imaging

Precise imaging for an accurate diagnosis

If you have joint pain or an injury, imaging — taking high-quality scans of your problem area — can help us understand your orthopedic issue better. This allows your care team to accurately diagnose musculoskeletal conditions, such as arthritis and osteoporosis while guiding decisions on your treatment.  

At Reid Health, our on-site imaging is here when you need it most. Available Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m., our orthopedic imaging services often require very little wait. Our experienced technologists know which images and views your orthopedic specialist needs, allowing you to get diagnosed sooner with less chance of needing extra imaging.

When you need advanced medical imaging, the Reid Radiology Department provides ultrasound, MRI, and CT images with superior quality. Appointments are quick, convenient, and available at our radiology locations throughout East Central Indiana. 

Orthopedic imaging tests

Orthopedic imaging shows details of fractures, ligament tears, arthritis, and many other conditions. It can also help us uncover the root cause of — and treat — your joint pain or measure the extent of a sports injury.

These tests give your healthcare team the information needed to decide on the best treatment for you.  

Bone scans

A whole-body bone scan helps us diagnose issues with bones, such as infection, trauma, bone cancer, or metastatic cancer that has spread. Before your scan, you’ll receive a radioactive tracer by injection, which helps us better see your bones, joints, and tissue. After it’s been absorbed, you’ll have a one-hour scan during which your imaging technologist will search for where the tracer has highlighted bone issues.

A three-phase bone scan looks for bone infections. For this type of study, imaging techs take pictures of your bones three times — immediately after you get the tracer injection and then a few minutes after the tracer has entered your bloodstream. The third and final scan is hours later after the tracer has entered your bones.

Indium-labeled white blood cell scan

Indium-labeled white blood cell (WBC) scans help us find inflammation and infections impacting your musculoskeletal system, including a serious bone infection called osteomyelitis.  

Your WBC usually takes about two days to complete. First, we take a blood sample and send it to a lab. There, your white blood cells are marked with indium-111, a radioactive material that will highlight areas of infection during your scan six to 24 hours later.  

After your marked blood has been reinjected into your body, we’ll take scans for 60–90 minutes, searching for where the indium-111 has accumulated, indicating infection.

Ultrasounds and arthrograms

We use ultrasounds and arthrograms to see what’s going on inside your joints, including proper placement, pain, swelling, and torn ligaments. These imaging studies are often quick and painless.  

In an arthrogram, we inject you with a contrast dye before conducting a CT scan, MRI, or X-ray. This helps us better see abnormalities or injuries impacting your knees, shoulders, elbows, ankles, or wrists.  

Orthopedic ultrasounds provide real-time images of your musculoskeletal system. This not only helps us quickly and properly diagnose the cause of your pain but also helps us provide treatments right then with a joint injection or aspiration.  

Myelogram

Myelograms, also known as myelography, help us examine your spine — including the spinal canal, spinal cord, and nerve roots — for herniated or bulging discs, injuries, or tumors that previous MRIs or CT scans might have missed.  

Before our myelogram begins, you’ll receive a contrast dye injection. This helps us see the different parts of your spine more clearly during your imaging study. After the injection, our imaging techs will use an X-ray or CT scanner to look more closely at your areas of concern.  

Single-photon emission computed tomography

In single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), we use a radioactive tracer to produce 3D images of your bones and other structures. These images help us identify issues in your musculoskeletal system, such as fractures or cancer that has spread to your bones.

Sulfur colloid bone marrow imaging

This is a type of bone marrow imaging. It uses tracer material to help us diagnose bone marrow cancers and evaluate the spread of cancer.

CT and MRI

We use CT and MRI to diagnose a variety of bone and soft-tissue conditions at Reid Health. In some cases, we might also use CT or MRI to look for additional brain injury after a concussion if symptoms don’t improve.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

Also known as DEXA, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans measure bone density in your hips and spine. DEXA often helps our orthopedic specialists detect osteoporosis — common in older women — before a fracture occurs, allowing you to take steps to improve your bone health and reduce fracture risk before it’s too late.  

Why choose Reid Health for orthopedic imaging? 

Our medical diagnostic imaging center offers leading-edge orthopedic imaging services that produce better-quality images compared with many other outpatient imaging centers serving our region, reducing the need for retesting.  

Since our diagnostic radiologists work on-site, there’s no need to send your images elsewhere to be read. Each of our experts is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology, showing their in-depth experience and professional skill.

Additionally, our diagnostic radiologists often go above and beyond to put you at ease and ensure you have a safe and comfortable environment for your scans.