Today, X-ray diagnostics is the most popular method for finding disorders in the articular apparatus. Changes in bone tissue, cartilage growths, areas with a large amount of calcium deposits are only a small part of what can be detected by this diagnostic method.
Because of the ability to view a complete picture of the joint on the resulting images, all problems can be identified at an early stage, as well as the most accurate diagnosis.
What is a joint x-ray?
Before you find out why and when an x-ray of the elbow joint is taken, you first need to understand what such a procedure is. In what cases is it shown? So, X-ray diagnostics is such a way to study the internal systems of our body. It is carried out using multiple x-rays. Thanks to a special device, the rays are directed to the area of the human body that needs to be illuminated and a picture taken.
X-ray of the elbow joint is done bythe same principle. The rays easily pass through all the soft tissues encircling the joint, and hard tissues, on the contrary, absorb them. In this regard, bones, as well as various foreign bodies, are always painted in white or light color in the images. It follows from this that the diagnosis of pathologies associated with the skeleton, using such an apparatus, is the most accurate. The modern world has reached the point where, for example, an x-ray of the elbow joint can be displayed not only on a special film, but also stored in a computer with the ability to show the image on the display. In this option, you can increase the required area and examine it in more detail.
X-ray or MRI?
It is important to know that an x-ray of the elbow joint can not always display all the existing pathologies. This is due to the fact that there is a period when the disease first affects soft tissues, which cannot be viewed using this device. Then other methods are included in the work: ultrasound, CT, or computed tomography, and MRI. These are also modern diagnostic methods.
MRI of the elbow joint will help to identify the pathology at an earlier stage, since both soft and hard tissues will be included in the study. On the pictures you can see all the changes that have occurred in the cartilage and ligamentous apparatus. Also, if you do an MRI of the elbow joint, you can also see the nerve fibers with the vessels that feed the tissues.
In general, magnetic resonance imaging is one of the most reliable diagnostic methods in traumatology. Modern modernized devices with high accuracy help to identify pathologies inelbow joint. MRI allows you to determine any neoplasms and the consequences of injuries.
Indications for diagnosis
If a person has constant pain in the elbow joint when bending, swelling, an unpleasant crunch, then in addition to X-rays, an MRI examination is prescribed. Moreover, additional verification is necessary in case of doubtful results of the first diagnostic method. If the elbow joint is swollen, then soft tissues are examined first of all, since in addition to bruises, there may be suspicions of a malignant tumor.
Also, MRI is prescribed if the patient has special contraindications for examination by X-ray irradiation. Often, before and after surgery, doctors require repeated magnetic resonance imaging.
What are elbow injuries?
Injuries usually occur after a fall, when most of the body weight falls on the elbow. The results most often are fractures of varying severity, dislocations, bruises, as well as ruptures of soft tissues (muscular or ligamentous apparatus). Such injuries are common for those who have any active sport in their lives. And especially for those who practice martial arts.
After receiving such injuries, the formation of adhesions is not uncommon, which will further limit mobility. Getting rid of them is quite difficult, therefore, after an x-ray, establishing an accurate diagnosis and treatment, the doctor strongly recommends actively developing connectivefabrics.
The most popular injury is a dislocation of the elbow joint. The x-ray shows exactly what happened to the joint and how serious it is. Based on the severity of the injury, doctors prescribe either conservative treatment by reduction, or resort to surgical intervention. A repeat x-ray of the elbow joint may be needed after rehabilitation. Also, the procedure is resorted to if the injury has recurred. Moreover, in the latter option, an operation is most often performed to restore the stability of the entire elbow joint.
For fractures, conservative treatment is also used, only in the form of a cast. In case of a serious injury, when the bones need to return to their previous position, arthroplasty is performed.
In addition to elbow bruises and dislocations, patients may suffer from inflammation of the tendons. Many do not attach much importance to this, and the pathology turns into a chronic disease, which is not so easy to cope with. In these cases, physiotherapy, immobilization of the joint are prescribed, and drugs are prescribed that relieve pain symptoms.
Osteoarthritis of the elbow joint
In addition to all of the above, there is such a disease as arthrosis. Often patients delay his treatment. Symptoms of arthrosis of the elbow joint are constant pain during flexion, extension and while walking. Sometimes discomfort cannot be removed even with drugs.
If a person has a dry crunch, then this is a direct symptom of arthrosis of the elbow joint. treatment in thisIn this case, you need to start immediately, since such a sound is formed due to the rubbing of bones against each other. Plus, there is a restriction of mobility, for example, due to muscle spasms. With advanced and chronic arthrosis, a person is usually prescribed an operation, during which the damaged joint is replaced with a metal one.
Treatment of pathology is reduced to the following provisions:
- It is necessary to perform exercises designed to develop a sore spot.
- Refuse to overload the sick hand.
- Use medications to reduce pain and inflammation (Diclofecan, Nise, Spasmalgon).
- Surgical intervention indicated in the most advanced cases.
- Using alternative treatments.
Main areas of therapy:
- Holding the pain.
- Increased mobility of the elbow joint.
- Keeping the right lifestyle.
Elbow x-ray
The elbow joint is considered the most vulnerable, along with the patella. Since it is more subject to external loads. With the help of an x-ray of the elbow joint in two projections, it is possible to determine the nature of the damage and the structure of the bone at the end of the forearm.
The picture will also show the periarticular zone, which is also taken into account during the study of the pathology, since it is often from there that the inflammatory process can come.
How is X-ray done?
In fact, there is no special preparation for the X-ray. The most important thing is to stay for a whilewithout movement in a sitting, standing or lying position. The average time allocated for the procedure is about ten minutes. X-ray examination is absolutely painless.
Before turning on the X-ray machine, the patient is covered with a lead apron in the hip region in men, the chest in women, in particular, the mammary glands. For comfort and maximum immobilization of the patient, he is placed on a table, over which a special pipe hangs. A photographic plate is placed in the box, and the image transmitted by the device will be displayed on it.
X-ray in hospital room
If the patient is in the intensive care unit, then a portable version of the X-ray machine is used. In this version, the photographic plate is placed behind the person, and the pipe is attached to a special manipulator. During the procedure, the rays are directed directly to the elbow joint and the areas closest to it.
When should an elbow x-ray be taken?
This part of the skeleton is a fairly complex structure, including the radioulnar joint, humeroulnar and others. When to seek the help of a radiologist:
- for any deformities or dystrophic changes (a person feels discomfort accompanied by pain);
- when swelling and redness occur in the area of the injured elbow (body temperature may rise);
- with obvious and visible failures of movable joints; when clubhand appears.
Notit is worth forgetting that any serious physical activity can provoke a serious pathology in the area of the elbow joint.
Contraindications for X-rays
Basically, all existing contraindications are related to the fact that the human body is exposed to serious radiation. But modern technology has stepped forward a long time ago, and now there are improved models of devices that give out a lower dose of radiation than their predecessors.
However, there is still a risk for children. For example, radiation rays can slow down the growth of a child. Therefore, age will be a contraindication: radiography can be performed if a person has reached fourteen years of age. Of course, pregnant women are exempted from the procedure. After all, radiation can harm the development of an unborn baby.
But there are exceptions when in young children or pregnant women unexpectedly severe pathologies of the elbow joints are detected, in which it is necessary to conduct an x-ray. In these situations, doctors try to choose the highest quality device and during the examination they make every effort to protect these categories of patients from radiation rays.
X-ray diagnostic options
There are two types of X-ray examinations: digital and analog. The first allows not only to print a picture several times, but also to display the picture on the screen. It is considered the least dangerous, therefore it is used more often than analog. The second is a familiar apparatus with film and radiation exposure.
In both casesthe doctor first installs a film or a special matrix into the apparatus at the level of the elbow joint. After turning on the x-ray, the doctor leaves the room. To study the pathologies of the elbow joint, two or three pictures are usually taken from different angles. This is necessary for a more accurate diagnosis. Sometimes additional images of the he althy joint are taken and used in the study to compare with the damaged one.
The result is deciphered by a radiologist right on the spot and sends the patient to the doctor in whom he is being observed. Also, the doctor can give the pictures to the hands of the patient immediately. In any case, the results obtained should be considered with the attending physician.
How often can the body be exposed to such radiation?
The effect of radiation during X-ray diagnostics depends on the intensity of radiation and the time spent on the procedure. Of course, the effect on the body is. Exposure is measured in doses. Every doctor has a special device in his pocket with which he keeps track of how many doses were received per day from X-ray studies.
For comparison, X-ray diagnostics of the colon is 6 m3t. From this we can conclude that images of individual parts of the body, which are a small area for diagnosis, can be performed without any particular risk to he alth several times a year, which cannot be said about complex studies. Starting from adolescence, everyone knows that it is recommended to do fluorography no more than once a year, ifprescribed treatment does not require otherwise.
When x-raying the joints, a person receives only thirty percent of the possible annual exposure. It's not that much. In turn, irradiation of the elbow joint with the help of digital radiography equals three percent of the annual dose. A higher dose is always used for bone imaging than for hollow internal organs.
Of course, any method of exposure is harmful, but the refusal of this examination can lead to serious consequences, in which the disease can go into more serious forms and stages.
