Common investigations

Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy is a type of X-ray scan that can show moving pictures of the bones. It is particularly useful for investigating joints because, unlike in a still image, the range of the joint’s motion can be seen.

Fluoroscopy passes a continuous X-ray beam through the body and transmits the image to a monitor so that the area being examined can be seen in detail. The procedure can be used as a diagnostic technique, to help Mr. Cole assess your injury. It can also be used during surgery or treatment. For example it provides useful images to help guide anaesthetic injections into a joint and is excellent at identifying calcium deposits.

Fluoroscopy is painless and non-invasive. However, because it uses X-rays there is a very small increased risk of radiation. For this reason, the length of time fluoroscopy is used is kept to a minimum and is typically just a few minutes.