The UC Davis Well being Division of Orthopaedic Surgical procedure Sports activities, and Foot & Ankle Clinic now has the primary weight-bearing CT scan machine within the Northern California area.
Often known as a weight bearing CT scanner, or WBCT, the modern know-how permits a affected person to face, quite than lie down, for a complete scan of the toes, ankles and knees. The arms and palms may also be evaluated in a weight-bearing place. Photographs will be taken in lower than 60 seconds and the method exposes sufferers to much less radiation than conventional CT scans. Suppliers started utilizing the brand new system with sufferers this week.
“We’re grateful to associate with the UC Davis Division of Radiology to be on the entrance fringe of diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal illnesses in Northern California and past,” mentioned R. Lor Randall, chair of the UC Davis Division of Orthopaedic Surgical procedure.
As a result of the toes and ankles help the load of the entire physique, WBCT imaging permits for a extra exact analysis of foot and ankle anatomy. As well as, a scan of the affected person’s toes whereas holding physique weight quite than whereas mendacity flat, permits for a extra correct picture of the foot and ankle alignment. It will possibly additionally supply improved perception about accidents by permitting suppliers to watch motion that causes ache or different deformities within the foot.
“The load-bearing CT scanner will enable us to have a greater understanding of sufferers’ accidents,” defined Eric Giza, the foot and ankle division chief within the Division of Orthopaedic Surgical procedure. “It permits us to create a 3-D mannequin of the affected person’s foot and ankle which then aids of their analysis and therapy and expedites their restoration and return to operate.”
Progressing affected person care
For orthopaedic sufferers, the brand new scanner expertise is an enchancment from a conventional CT scanner. These can take so long as half-hour and require the affected person to lie down on a mattress and keep nonetheless whereas the mattress strikes by a brief tube. Some sufferers with a concern of enclosed areas and most kids should typically be sedated to acquire dependable pictures.
This new system allows UC Davis Well being orthopaedic surgeons to find out probably the most correct evaluation and therapy choices for sufferers. The WBCT scanner is modern know-how for the analysis and care of foot and ankle damage and sickness. It may also be used for the analysis of the knee, elbow and wrist.
“This new know-how offers us higher perception right into a affected person’s pathology and permits us to create a extra complete plan of therapy,” mentioned Christopher Kreulen, affiliate professor within the Division of Orthopaedic Surgical procedure.
The brand new diagnostic device is positioned at UC Davis Sports activities Medication on C Avenue. This permits sufferers to have superior imaging in the identical clinic the place they see their orthopaedic suppliers. The purpose is to expedite the timeline from analysis to therapy.
“Being the primary within the area to have this know-how helps additional distinguish the excessive degree of care our orthopaedic division supplies to the neighborhood,” Kreulen mentioned.
