X-ray
Routine x-ray studies are available on premises and these are usually the first type of diagnostic test.
The following tests are available on site as needed:
MRI Scan and CT Scan
These scans show soft tissue structures, such as ruptured discs, the spinal cord, narrowing of the spinal canal, nerve roots, muscles and bones. CT scans use radiation, while MRI scans use a magnetic field and a computer to reproduce its images. New machines cut test times dramatically.
Myelogram
Myelograms are performed if a clearer picture is needed to clarify the MRI scan. A myelogram is similar to an X-ray or CT scan, with the picture being enhanced by injecting dye into the spinal canal.
Discogram (or Discography)
Discograms are used to assist in confirming the source of pain. This test is completed before surgery. A needle is used to inject the dye in the disc that is suspected of causing the pain. Because this test recreates the back pain, the test itself can be painful but can reveal the specific cause of the problem.
Radionuclide Bone Scan
One of the major advantages of a radionuclide bone scan over all other imaging techniques is its ability to image the entire skeleton at once. Bone scanning provides useful information in that it can confirm the presence of diseases, demonstrate the distribution of the lesion, and help to evaluate the activity of the pathologic process. The indications for bone scanning include traumatic conditions, tumors, various arthritides, infections, and metabolic bone disease.
Electromyography and Nerve Conduction
Electrodiagnostic consultation is usually performed by a neurologist. The electrodiagnostic examination is essentially a neuromuscular disease consultation with the addition of electrophysiologic testing. Electrophysiologic testing of the patient with low back or neck pain is indicated when one suspects a radiculopathy, peripheral neuropathy, spinal stenosis, or an entrapment neuropathy. It is particularly important with complaints of sensory (pain, numbness, tingling, or burning) or motor (weakness, "giving out", or fatigue) symptoms. The electrodiagnosic study can frequently identify the level or levels that are most involved in a radiculopathy. Likewise, electrodiagnosis can eliminate other diagnostic possibilities.
STOSSA offers the state of the art bone densitometry. Bone densitometry is a safe, painless X-ray technique that compares your bone density to the peak bone density that someone of your same sex and ethnicity should have reached at about age 20 to 25, when it is at it's highest. It is often performed in women at the time of menopause. Several types of bone densitometry are used today to detect bone loss in different areas of the body. Dual beam x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is one of the most accurate methods.