Burke Health is proud to announce another state-of-the-art addition, a weight-bearing CT device, making them the only facility in the state of Georgia with this specific imaging capability.
The new equipment is used to give the orthopedic surgeon the most accurate assessment of the foot and ankle in the standing position. The device allows the patient to sit down while applying pressure, so the image can capture the “weight-bearing” affect.
“Conventional CT does not take into account what the ankle looks like bearing weight, but this new technology will not generate a picture unless the patient’s weight is on the pedal,” said Dr. Karim Mahmoud of Georgia Carolina Orthopedics. “Capturing the weight bearing image can change the surgery decision completely; weight status is crucial in foot and ankle surgery and can help us decide on reconstruction versus fusion based on what we see.”
Burke Health has been offering weight-bearing radiology for years, but previous technology gave a 2-dimensional view of the joints. The new technology provides weight-bearing CTs with a 3-dimensional view of the 28 bones and 33 joints in the foot and ankle as if the patient were in a standing position. It also allows the capability of gaining weight-bearing images on patients who cannot stand.
“Most patients do not have pain while lying down or sitting,” said Tammie Salter, Director of Radiology at Burke Health. “The pain is when they are standing or walking, so weight-bearing CTs are a game changer when it comes to diagnosing ankle arthritis or fractures and ensuring the correct patient specific implants are used during surgery.”
For more information on weight-bearing CT, contact Burke Imaging at 706-437-2673.
Source: https://www.thetruecitizen.com/articles/burke-health-now-offering-weight-bearing-ct/