MRI Center

When you need magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose orthopedic injuries and diseases, you don’t need to look any further than Spine Center Atlanta. Their on-site MRI services give you the convenience of receiving all of your care in one location and deliver a higher quality of care, including a faster diagnosis and treatment. To learn more about MRIs or to schedule an appointment, call one of the six offices in Atlanta, Savannah, Conyers, Augusta, Macon, and Decatur, Georgia, or book online today.

Why do I need an MRI?

You may need an MRI to evaluate your bones, joints, and soft tissues. An MRI rises above other diagnostic techniques when it comes to getting exceptional images of soft tissues such as spinal discs, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The physicians at Spine Center Atlanta rely on MRIs to evaluate and diagnose many conditions, including:

• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Compressed spinal nerves
• Spinal cord injuries
• Spine and bone tumors
• Sports injuries
• Infections
• Arthritis
• Bone disease
• Knee injuries
• Cartilage, ligament, and tendon injuries

The images from an MRI are so detailed they can detect serious conditions like tumors and arthritis at an early stage.

How does MRI work?

MRI devices create high-definition images using computer-generated radiofrequency waves together with a magnetic field. (You’re not exposed to any radiation.) This advanced technology detects movement in molecules inside the body and converts that information into images.

MRIs take cross-sectional images from top to bottom, front to back, and side to side. Then the computer uses the different slices to produce three-dimensional (3D) views.

The team at Spine Center Atlanta performs MRIs using the cutting-edge GE 1.5T Echospeed Plus Mobile MRI. This device can scan your entire body. At the same time, it shows precise details such as changes in the brain’s white matter.

What type of MRI technique is diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)?

Spine Center Atlanta uses their MRI device to perform DTI, a highly specialized technique that detects water movement in the white matter fibers connecting different parts of the brain. Your surgeon uses DTI imaging to map the white matter tracts. Then they use that information to plan your surgery and ensure that the areas are protected during surgery.

What should I expect during an MRI?

You complete a questionnaire to identify any issues that may prevent you from getting an MRI. For example, some implanted medical devices can’t go into the MRI machine. Otherwise, you don’t need to do much to prepare for an MRI. You can follow the same diet and only need to wear comfortable clothes. The MRI machine is open at both ends, so you won’t be inside a narrow tube. However, talk with your provider before your appointment if you have any concerns about claustrophobia or anxiety. You should be prepared for the machine’s intermittent noises. The most important thing is to lie very still throughout the procedure.

If you have questions about getting an MRI or need to schedule an appointment, call Spine Center Atlanta or book an appointment online today.