Case Study Shows Better Outcome for the Patient By Using The FONAR UPRIGHT MRI

Melville, NY - FONAR Corporation, The Inventor of MR Scanning, reported a case study based on the use of a FONAR UPRIGHT MRI by Bennie W. Chiles III, M.D., F.A.C.S., of Westchester Spine and Brain Surgery, PLLC and Upright Imaging of Westchester, P.C.

Dr. Chiles described the patient as a 49-year-old male who had a 20-year history of chronic back pain and a three-year history of right lower extremity radiculopathy. In earlier scans from a recumbent-only MRI, a right paracentral disk herniation at L5-S1 was seen. Dr. Chiles reported that based on this scan he would have performed a discectomy on L5-S1 to relieve pressure on the nerve root and an L5-S1 fusion for the back pain. Fusing L4-5 was not a consideration because there was no spinal instability at this segment that was visible on the recumbent MRI images.

The dynamic weight-loaded flexion and extension images of the FONAR UPRIGHT MRI revealed that the patient also had a significant spinal instability at L4-5. Consequently, Dr. Chiles fused L4-5 during surgery in addition to the discectomy and fusion of L5-S1. The patient's severe right leg pain is now gone and his back pain is much reduced.

The FONAR UPRIGHT MRI was able to provide the physician with a more complete visualization of the patient's problem than was possible with a recumbent-only MRI. The result was an excellent outcome for the patient.

SOURCE: FONAR