If you walk into OS1 with a possible fracture or a bone or joint injury, you do not get sent to a separate imaging center and told to come back. Every OS1 clinic has digital X-ray on-site. Your provider orders the X-ray, it is taken in the same visit, and the images come up on a screen within minutes for the provider to review with you. Diagnosis and a treatment plan happen in one trip.
X-ray is the fastest way to see bone. It is the standard first imaging step for a suspected broken bone, a dislocation, or a joint injury after a fall, a collision, or a hard twist. At OS1 it is commonly used to check for fractures of the wrist, hand, ankle, foot, elbow, and collarbone, to confirm or rule out a break, to look at joint alignment after a dislocation, and to check the position of a known fracture as it heals.
Digital X-ray uses a lower dose of radiation than older film X-ray and produces a sharp image right away, with no film to develop. Your OS1 provider reads the image on the spot, which is what makes same-visit diagnosis possible. If the X-ray points to something that needs a closer look at soft tissue, such as ligaments or cartilage, your provider can order an open MRI, which is also on-site at OS1 and typically scheduled within 24 hours.
You do not need an appointment or a referral. Walk into any OS1 clinic during open hours, and if imaging is part of figuring out your injury, it happens that visit.
No. You do not need to prepare for an x-ray. You may be asked to change into a gown or shorts depending on what body part is being x-rayed. You will also be asked to remove any jewelry or metal that may be obscuring the body part being imaged.
An x-ray technologist will perform the x-ray. The provider will then interpret the images, and if necessary, consult a radiologist for their interpretation.
Although you are exposed to some x-ray radiation during this imaging study, the amount is minimal. Depending on the injury, x-rays are not performed in the first trimester of pregnancy.
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.