Seamless Care. Expert Treatment. Faster Recovery.
info@bettersooner.com
If your OS1 provider determines you need an MRI, you will not be sent across town or told to wait weeks. We evaluate your injury and decide whether an MRI is needed. If it is, we schedule it on-site. Our MRI is an open MRI, which is a more comfortable experience if you are claustrophobic or larger framed. Once the scan is done, your results are typically back within 24 to 48 hours.
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses a magnetic field and radio waves, not radiation, to create detailed images of the inside of the body. It is especially good at showing soft tissue, the ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and muscles that an X-ray cannot see. That makes it one of the most useful tools an orthopedic provider has for pinpointing exactly what is wrong after an injury.
At OS1, an MRI is often the step that confirms a diagnosis after the initial exam and X-ray. It is commonly used to identify ligament tears such as an ACL or MCL injury, tendon injuries and tears including the rotator cuff and Achilles, cartilage and meniscus damage, stress fractures and bone bruises that do not show on an X-ray, and soft-tissue swelling or inflammation that needs a closer look.
Not all MRI machines are the same. A traditional closed MRI is a narrow tube, which can be difficult for anyone who feels claustrophobic or does not fit comfortably inside it. Every OS1 clinic uses an open MRI. It is more spacious and far less confining, which makes the scan easier to get through. Hoover, Trussville, Madison, and Kennesaw all have an open MRI on-site.
OS1 has both on-site, and they do different jobs. An X-ray is the fast first look and is best at showing bones and fractures. An MRI goes deeper and shows the soft tissue an X-ray cannot. Your provider decides which you need. In many cases the X-ray comes first and the MRI confirms the details.
The process at OS1 is straightforward. You walk in and are seen by an OS1 provider. If they determine an MRI will help diagnose your injury, they get you scheduled the same day. The scan itself is painless. You lie still while the machine takes images, and the open design means you are not enclosed in a tight tube. Results are typically back within 24 to 48 hours, and your OS1 provider follows up with you on what the scan found and the next step in your care.
Your provider has ordered an MRI to confirm or exclude a diagnosis, to aid in the prompt and accurate treatment of your condition.
Your exam will be performed by a technologist with training in magnetic resonance imaging. A radiologist, who has advanced training in musculoskeletal radiology, will provide an interpretation of your examination. Your provider will then utilize the MRI images and radiologist report to determine the appropriate clinical diagnosis and treatment plan.
There are no inherent health risks of MRI in most individuals. Given the use of a magnet for the imaging test, any implants or metallic objects in your body will need to be identified to ensure compatibility with the machine. An MRI safety questionnaire needs to be completed by the patient and reviewed by the radiology technologist prior to starting the test to ensure patient safety. Depending on the findings of the questionnaire, further information or medical records may be required prior to the test. This information or medical records may be required prior to the test. This information will be assessed using published safety protocols for the MRI machine and/or clearance by the radiologist.
At OS1 Orthopedic & Sports Injury Clinic, we provide expert, same-day orthopedic care for patients of all ages—without the long wait times or high costs of an emergency room visit. Whether you’ve suffered a sports injury, a workplace accident, or a flare-up of a chronic condition, our board-certified orthopedic specialists and highly trained medical team are here to help you recover quickly and safely.
