Fluoroscopic guided procedure at Mount Sinai

 Although at first it may sound a new deep-clean toothpaste or a strange form of horticulture, a fluoroscopy is an important diagnostic tool we use at Mount Sinai’s Department of Rehabilitative Medicine. You may have recently been, or potentially be referred for one of these treatments with one of our specialists. This week, we want to walk you through this vital piece of equipment and some of important procedures.

Firstly, What Is A Fluoroscopy Guided Procedure?

Before we answer that, we need to tell you what a fluoroscopy is. It’s nothing scary, your physician safely injects a dye into an area which allows them to investigate localized problems – which as you can imagine is much better than any alternative which may involve surgery. Our physicians can move joints, check organ health, locate a foreign body, amongst many other things. When the dye is inserted into the numbed area you may be asked to move or remain still depending on the nature of the investigation. From this point, your physician can study moving body structures as an x-ray like beam is passed through the examined part of the body which is then transmitted onto a monitor.

A fluoroscopy guided procedure in that case is the practice using a fluoroscopy to aid in providing relief to arthritis, especially in the hip joint. The physician can use the guidelines and information feedback to inject numbing agents or anti-inflammatory medications with maximum accuracy.

Why Have A Fluoroscopy or A Fluoroscopic Guided Procedure?

More often than not, your physician will recommend you for this procedure as an investigative procedure that will further increase their understanding of symptoms, underlying problems, and recovery. Sometimes however, we use the guides alone as a diagnostic or in conjunction with other diagnostic or therapeutic media or procedures. The reason therefore varies depending on your situation.

Risks and Additional Notes

There is very little risk associated with fluoroscopic procedures, whether it investigative or procedural. However, if you are – or think you are – pregnant please divulge this information with us before the exam. Other options will hitherto be discussed.

You may be asked to change into patient clothing, and all provision will be provided. Remove all piercings and leave all jewellery. We suggest leaving valuables at home.

Eat/Drink – specific instructions will be provided based on the examination you are scheduled for.

Please notify the radiologist or technologist as to your allergies or sensitivities to medications.

If you have been recommended a fluoroscopic procedure and would like to do it with us at Mount Sinai, or if you are having one with us soon and would like more information, please contact us on (212) 241-6321) to see if our physicians can further help.