X-rays of the hand, wrist, arm, foot, ankle, knee, or leg help determine whether a bone has been fractured or injured or damaged by conditions such as an infection, arthritis, or other disease.
Other reasons for conventional X-rays on your feet include:
- Evaluate changes in the bones caused by such things as an infection, arthritis, or other bone disease.
- Help evaluate whether a child's bones are growing normally.
- Locate foreign objects (such as pieces of glass or metal) in a wound.
- To determine whether bones are properly set after treating a fracture and placing a cast on an arm or leg.
Pregnant women, especially those in their first trimester, are advised against having a CT exam or any X-ray examination. Extremity X-rays usually takes only five to 10 minutes.
While extremity X-rays do a good job showing bone fractures or dislocations, they are not very accurate when it comes to showing affected cartilage, tendons, or ligaments. A MRI or CT scan may be prescribed.
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| Records indicate that amputations and other forms of surgery due to infections of the feet, many brought about by diabetes, have been significantly reduced in recent years because of early diagnosis and treatment. Further reduction in this area is a goal of Healthy People 2010, a US Department of Health and Human Services campaign endorsed by podiatric physicians, to encourage understanding and application of preventive medical practices. |
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