Diagnostic testing at Hughston

Your physician can tell a lot about your injury or condition simply by examining you. While the physical exam is much more than a cursory look, your doctor may need additional tests to help determine the extent of your injury or to confirm the diagnosis. The Hughston Clinic offers the most noninvasive techniques and uses the latest equipment to help diagnose your condition quickly and effectively.

How can diagnostic testing help you?

Hughston Clinic uses the highest quality, most trusted equipment in diagnostic testing. Fast, accurate testing helps our physicians provide you with a reliable diagnosis and an effective treatment plan.

X-Ray
Radiographs, or x-ray, technology has been around for more than 125 years, and it continues to be the most efficient diagnostic imaging technique when it comes to viewing your bones. X-rays are the best tool to use for fractures and joint dislocations, but your doctor may also request an x-ray if he or she suspects you have bone damage due to arthritis or osteoporosis. Most x-rays take about 10 to 15 minutes and they can provide a wealth of information about your musculoskeletal health.

MRI
Magnetic resonance imagining, or MRI, is a painless technique that allows your doctor to look at the soft tissues, such as muscles within your body. Your physician can use MRI testing to see the image of structures inside your joints, which they cannot feel during a physical exam. Some of these structures are ligaments (tissues connecting bones), menisci (crescent shaped structures in the knee), and tendons (tissues connecting muscles to bones). MRI provides your Hughston doctor a window to see inside your injured joint, diagnose the problem, and execute a treatment plan that’s perfect for you.

Ultrasound
Doctors and patients like ultrasonography because it is a safe, noninvasive imaging technique that does not emit radiation. Additionally, ultrasound offers high resolution images and the capability of real-time assessments. Physicians can use this technology to visualize tendon tears, tiny bone calcifications, and detect damage inside your joints.

Electromyography
An electromyography (EMG) records and analyzes the electrical activity in your muscles as it responds to a nerve’s stimulation. Your physician uses this diagnostic test to find out more about how the nerves in your arms and legs are functioning. For example, if you have a fracture and you are experiencing tingling or numbness, your doctor may order an electromyography to make sure your nerve is not being pinched.