Advanced imaging and diagnostics are being implemented by many orthopedic surgeons and having an immediate impact on patient care.
The technology has helped surgeons improve efficiency, surgical planning and creating specific implants for patients.
Ask Orthopedic Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to orthopedic surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. Becker’s invites all orthopedic surgeon and specialist responses.
Next question: What’s the hardest lesson you’ve learned as a leader in orthopedic care?
Please send responses to Cameron Cortigiano at ccortigiano@beckershealthcare.com by 5 p.m. CT on Aug. 25.
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: How are you integrating advanced imaging or diagnostics into your workflow?
Ronald Gardner, MD. Founder of Gardner Orthopedics (Fort Myers, Fla.): Comprehensive evaluations often require advanced imaging to delineate pain generator possibilities to narrow the diagnostic possibilities and direct care. The inclusion or exclusion of AVN or stress fractures using MRI are great examples of where imaging can immediately modify care to a more efficient protocol or algorithm.
David Kugelman, MD. Joint Replacement Surgeon at Rothman Orthopaedics (Philadelphia): A significant portion of my practice involves revision arthroplasty, where advanced imaging, including CT, bone scans and MRI, plays a critical role in the diagnostic process and surgical planning.
Madhish Patel, DO. Orthopedic Surgeon at Gardner Orthopedics (Fort Myers, Fla.): This depends on the complexity of the pathology and more importantly recognizing the etiology/pathology. Advanced imaging can be used for both diagnostic and preoperative planning purposes. Diagnostic purposes would be to confirm diagnoses and to assess for concomitant pathology that may or may not change plan of care. This is critical especially in musculoskeletal oncology. We also use advanced imaging to assess cases with complex deformity and utilize the information for preoperative planning. This helps us anticipate any difficulties that may arise intraoperatively and plan for such. It also is necessary in manufacturing of custom implants for the select complex patients for whom the standard off-the shelf alternatives may not be adequate.
