If you ask the doctor what the X-ray of the knee shows, the doctor will probably explain for quite some time. A properly organized procedure will detect a malignant neoplasm, determine the presence of an inflammatory focus, or assess the degree of tissue degradation. A simple black-and-white photograph provides the professional with enough information to evaluate the health of this part of the body, to make a diagnosis and choose a treatment. What can be seen by x-ray?
general information
To understand what an x-ray of the knee shows, you need to know what, in principle, is a diagnosis using x-rays. Such a method became possible when humanity learned about a new radiation that can pass through the tissues of the human body, but not all. For medical purposes, a special apparatus is used that creates a directed flow of such radiation. He processes part of the body, as a result of which the doctor receives a picture. Soft tissues are able to completely let the rays through, but hard ones hold them back, so the first ones in the picture will be darker, the second ones will be lighter.
If we briefly explain what the x-ray of the knee joint shows, we can formulate it as follows: bone tissue. Due to this feature, the technique has become widespread, in demand, and popular in the diagnosis of a variety of bone and joint diseases. The devices available to modern doctors give an almost instant result. Pictures that are created during operation are not only printed on special paper, but also transferred to the computer’s memory, where they are saved. Accordingly, they will be available to the user at any time without loss of quality from months and years of storage.
Accurate and reliable
If you ask a doctor what an X-ray of the knee joint shows, the doctor will say that some pathological changes in the area can be seen. In this case, the specialist will probably make a reservation right away: although it is possible to fix many violations this way, there are also states that cannot be seen on the x-ray. In medicine, it is customary to talk about an X-ray negative stage. In this period, the lesion covers exclusively soft tissues; accordingly, it cannot be seen in a special picture.
To clarify the patient’s condition, they usually supplement the study with the help of X-ray examination with CT, MRI devices. In some cases, an ultrasound scan is indicated. This method allows you to evaluate soft tissues in detail. Ultrasound gives an accurate idea of ​​the state of muscle and ligamentous tissues, tendons. However, it is much more suitable for determining periarticular pathologies, while articular can be determined primarily through x-rays.
Additional research
If you need to do an x-ray of the knee joint, it is possible that the doctor will immediately direct you to additional tests and examinations, so that, based on the results of the study of the patient's condition, you have enough information to make a final, accurate diagnosis. Sometimes it is clear in advance that in addition to x-rays, it is necessary to study the contents of the articular zone. For this, the patient is shown a puncture.
During the procedure, a joint capsule is pierced and the fluid inside is obtained. It is examined with an increase in order to identify foreign inclusions. It can be blood molecules, purulent compounds, infectious agents.
To examine the joint from the inside, the patient is sent not only to x-rays, but also to arthroscopy. To examine the internal cavity, puncture the tissue and insert an endoscope through the hole. During such an event, you can take a small amount of synovial tissue for subsequent laboratory research. Using an endoscope, you can immediately organize therapeutic measures.
More about X-ray
The doctor advises the patient to take an X-ray of the knee joint when it is necessary to get the most useful information about the condition of this zone as soon as possible. The method is considered affordable and one of the easiest to implement. A feature of this zone is an increased load in everyday life, especially significant if the person’s lifestyle is active. The load on the knees of athletes is increased.
Injuries and diseases of this site in medical practice are common. If the knee hurts at rest, the first and basic study is precisely the x-ray. It is also done if the patient came with complaints of pain during movement. If the doctor, upon visual inspection, sees that the knee is swollen, the shade of the skin has changed, the zone is deformed, and its mobility is limited, an x-ray is prescribed immediately.
An x-ray of the knee joint in two projections is of great value for diagnosis in the first place in case of injury. Do not do without such a study if there is a bone crack, dislocation or subluxation. The study is indicated for a fracture. It is done in case of violation of the integrity of the tissues forming the local ligamentous apparatus. If there is or is supposed to be hemorrhage in the joint, x-ray radiation will be the first and main method of clarifying the condition. It is also used for condyle fracture, damage to the patella, meniscus.
On the pros and cons
Having prescribed the procedure, the doctor will also explain where to make an X-ray of the knee joint - for this you will have to visit a special office. There is one in almost any large modern hospital, and there are specialized private institutions where they provide appropriate services. Using their capabilities, a person receives an accurate picture showing the condition of the knee joint.
This procedure has several advantages. For example, there is no need to specially prepare for its implementation, and the process itself is easy, simple, does not cause discomfort. The result, obtained as soon as possible, is then used by doctors of various specializations - all doctors involved in the treatment of the patient will analyze the picture based on their highly specialized knowledge.
Not without flaws. Having figured out where to take an X-ray of the knee joint, having received a picture in your hands, you should not expect that the exact diagnosis and treatment program are already written in large letters on it. Sometimes just such a study is not enough to assess the patient's condition. In addition, the workflow requires the use of ionizing radiation. It negatively affects human health, so it is undesirable to be affected by such rays too often.
Another subtle aspect is the need for specialized compounds that create contrast in the picture. Such drugs are not always required, but if there is a need for them, you can safely attribute them to the disadvantages of the method. Radiopaque compounds are mostly toxic to the body, although they are used in small quantities for medical purposes, so the likelihood of complications is minimal. But an allergic reaction can develop to these substances.
Safety comes first
Although an x-ray of the knee joint in two projections gives maximum accurate information about the patient’s condition, this procedure is not always recommended. In particular, if a knee hurts in a child younger than three months of age, the use of ionizing radiation is avoided if possible. A safer alternative is ultrasound. X-rays are harmful to children during breastfeeding, as it can provoke a gene mutation that manifests itself only after many years. Studies have shown that if radiation affects the pelvic area and is too strong, in the future, a person is likely to become a victim of infertility. The risk of tumor diseases, blood diseases, autoimmune pathologies increases.
As can be learned from the X-ray descriptions of the knee joint, the most reliable way to avoid distant complications is to use radiation in a rational, dosed manner. The normative implementation of measures involves the study of the zone strictly in the event that there are obvious indications. Even if the picture turned out to be imperfect, it will not be altered if the picture is informative. It is advisable to use the most modern and new technology, which gives irradiation dosed and accurate.
Even on such aggregates, children should be examined every six months or less. If there is a critical indication, examination is allowed three times a year. It is forbidden to take an x-ray, if a person suffers from schizophrenia, if there are implants in the knee, metal prostheses.
Event holding
If the doctor advised you to take a picture of the knee joint, an x-ray can be taken right away - no special preparation for the event is required. It is advisable to stand during the procedure. To study the condition of most joints, a lying or sitting position is more suitable, but knees are the exception, a standing pose is the best option.
The duration of the event on average is about 10 minutes. The procedure does not provoke pain or discomfort, does not feel at all by the patient. The only unpleasant sensations that are possible are the lowered air temperature in the office reserved for this procedure. In addition, the need for a relatively long time to maintain a stationary position is another factor that can provoke slight discomfort to a person.
Equipment and research
Usually an x-ray of a healthy knee joint is not done. If a disease that can be determined using radiation is suspected, the patient is referred for examination under an apparatus that generates ionizing radiation. The procedure begins with protecting the patient's body. An apron made of lead is placed on the pelvic area. It allows you to protect organic tissues from aggressive influences.
The equipment used in the work is a tube located above the work table, a film in a special box or a photographic plate designed for the manifestation of the finished image.
In some cases, resort to portable equipment. A portable device is a small unit that is used in intensive care or for examining patients who are forced to lie on a bed without movement. The tube is attached to the manipulator, placed over the patient’s body, and the plate or film holder is placed behind the person.
How is the procedure going?
Having found out where it is possible to take an X-ray of the knee joint (in the X-ray room of the clinic) and having come to the session, the patient should carefully listen to the specialist. The radiologist will determine the optimal position and help you to get into the matrix correctly, so that the table level corresponds to the part of the body that needs to be examined - that is, the knees.
Sometimes special devices are used. So, in some cases, there is a need for sand-filled bags or pillows. The patient's task is to be motionless for the entire period of the study. At the time of the picture, they stop breathing for a few seconds. This eliminates the likelihood of low-quality images.
In the descriptions on how the X-ray of the knee joint is done, one can see a clarification of the fact that at the time of taking the picture, the specialist either moves away from the working area, or moves to the next room. This allows you to protect the clinic staff from the aggressive influence of ionizing rays. In most cases, the study of the knee composition requires the study of the area several times in a row. Take 2 or 3 pictures. Each from a new angle. In some cases, a picture of a healthy joint is taken in parallel so that it can be compared with a victim of a disease.
Methods
To make an x-ray of the knee joint in two planes, you can resort to the digital method, or you can use analog technologies. In the first case, the result is prepared faster - in a matter of seconds it appears on the computer screen. It can be printed many times.
The analogue method is a means of creating a picture on a specialized film. Currently, most radiology rooms use digital radiography equipment. This is a more accurate method, the least dangerous for the human body. The apparatus with which it is implemented is extremely simplified for use. The preparatory stage, the creation of the image and its subsequent processing are procedures that are implemented on average in just five minutes.
To learn from your own experience what an x-ray of the knee joint looks like (black and white image of bone tissue), you can, if the doctor has prescribed an event. Without the recommendations of a specialist, such a study is not carried out.
If you use lead protection during the event, make sure the availability and integrity of the cover. It is especially important to protect the reproductive system, the thyroid gland. When studying a child’s body, one should be extremely careful: the body is very small, there is a high risk of ionizing rays penetrating into different parts of the body. To fix the position of the child, the fixing products intended for this are used. The use of such items reduces the risk of having to re-conduct the study. In some cases, the introduction of a sedative, analgesic is required.
What will we see?
If you ask the doctor what an x-ray of the knee joint shows in an adult or a child, you can find out a lot of interesting things. First, the method was used to determine trauma, fracture, bone crack, articular dislocation, damage to ligaments. The event is shown to assess the correct position of bone fragments. It allows you to evaluate the stability of the fracture, if the patient has already received some treatment.
The X-ray method is also necessary to clarify infection, arthritis, bone tissue hyperplasia. Metabolic diseases that negatively affect the musculoskeletal system are possible. They are also shown by an x-ray zone. The procedure is an effective means of determining malignant neoplasms, clarifying the diagnosis.
It can be detected using x-rays of the knee joint, arthrosis and other joint, bone diseases. The event is carried out with suspected skin-joint problems, deformations caused by professional activity or improper nutrition. In childhood, this procedure allows you to effectively control the formation, development of the skeleton. Turning to the possibilities of ionizing radiation, it is possible to identify the aging process in time and study it with a specific example.
Who will tell?
To understand what the norm is, an X-ray of the knee joint is paired: the diseased and healthy areas. Analysis of the obtained images is the responsibility of the radiologist. It is very difficult to independently understand where the sites are healthy and where there are deviations. Much is determined by the individual structural features of the body. That is why the interpretation of the image is always trusted by the radiologist, not the therapist.
The doctor examines the picture, draws up his opinion, draws up and signs it. Only when the conclusion is ready, the picture and comments on it will get to the treating doctor. Sometimes the work is arranged so that the patient himself takes the conclusion, the picture in the X-ray room. The results of the study must be shown to the attending doctor. Often prescribed additional research activities. The doctor will explain their choice and need for such, starting from the diagnosis and the nuances of the course of the disease.
Radiation and the human body
The strength of the effect of ionizing radiation on the human body is determined by the intensity of the flow and the duration of its effect. The unit of exposure is designated as sievert. Each radiologist is required to have a dosimeter with him, which measures the dose received in sievert. This largely depends on the unit with which the specialist has to work. The better the product, the safer the interaction process.
The patient also receives different levels of exposure using different devices. For different parts of the body, determine your standards, due to the ability of various tissues to perceive aggressive rays. The risk of the body as a whole determines the effective dose.
With radiation from the knee joint, the effective dose is 0.001 mzt. This is approximately the natural exposure of a person spending one day in nature. , 6 , , . , . .
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