A.A. Specialty Health Center

1. What is DMX? 2. DMX Testing and Use 3. A. A. Pain Clinic's Checklist For Whiplash Injury
What is DMX? Dynamic Motion X-ray (DMX) is a new application of old techniques previously known as fluoroscopy, cine-radiography, and/or video fluoroscopy. The original prototypes were developed in the 1930s, and have evolved with time and new technology. In the beginning the fluoroscopy background was black with the projected image being white. This type of imaging often times resulted in blurred and unreadable images when the patient moved. Our DMX Department's mission is to efficaciously diagnose injuries and muscular skeletal abnormalities, as well as provide the visualization to preform various blocks and therapeutic procedures utilizing FDA approved x-ray techniques found nowhere else in Alaska. Our DMX Department's goal is to provide our referring practitioners and patients with the highest possible quality of dynamic diagnostic imaging. It is our aim to give our referring practitioners and patients the imaging information needed to get the appropriate medical treatment for the patient's particular injury or abnormality. With the correct documentation and diagnosis, medical practitioners will be able to manage and control their patient's pain more effectively, which, in turn, will improve the patient's quality of life. With advances in the computer industry, it is now possible to change the video x-ray background to white, and project a black image thereby increasing the clarity of the x-ray. DMX was developed to use a low-dose generator and custom image intensifier to produce crystal clear motion images with less radiation than traditional x-rays. All of these advances enables physicians or other medical practitioners to view the patient's injury(s) and/or abnormality(s) while the patient is performing the activities that cause their painful conditions. DMX visualizes and records the injury in motion, along with picture in a picture imagery (allowing for simultaneous internal and external views of the patient) in real time (30 frames per second) and gives conclusive, clinically objective findings proving the extent, location, and nature of injuries that were previously unable to be observed. As a result, the patient's condition is more efficaciously diagnosed, and a treatment plan can be more specifically targeted to the injury. Payers are more likely to reimburse medical charges and patient care with DMX's irrefutable objective documentation of an injury or abnormality. DMX is also used as a visualization tool for doing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The crystal clear vision that the DMX offers facilitates and documents the correct placement of the needle(s) and/or catheter(s) used in such procedures. DMX Testing and Use: DMX testing can be done for and/or on the following to document normal or abnormal findings: - - TMJ - - Foot - - Cervical Spine - - Lumbar Area - - Toe - - Shoulder - - Chest - - Hip - - Elbow - - Pelvis - - Wrist - - Finger - - Ankle - - Scoliosis Screening - - Skeletal fracture alignment - - External and internal skeletal fixation DMX supplies low dose x-ray visualization for the following diagnostic and therapeutic procedures: - - Major and minor joint injections - - Facet blocks - - Arthrograms and Discograms - - Epidural injections - - Epiduragrams and Mylograms - - Neurolytic injections - - Epidural stimulator placement - - Nerve root blocks - - Intrathecal catheter placement - - Sympathetic blocks - - Barium Swallows - - Stellate ganglion injections - - Manipulation under anesthesia Some examples of DMX testing results are as follows: - - Diagnose temporomandibular joint disorders. - - Diagnose and locate foreign bodies in soft tissue. - - Diagnose causes of headaches, dizziness and/or blurred vision. - - Diagnose causes of pain and/or stiffness in the head, neck, back and limbs. - - Confirm fractures. - - Confirm aberrant range of motion. - - Confirm suspected ligamentous instability. - - Confirm non-unions with pseudo-arthrosis. - - Confirm normal or abnormal movement of bones and joints. - - Confirm normal or abnormal motion of total joint prosthesis. - - Confirm suspected supportive soft tissue lesions in symptomatic patients. A. A. Pain Clinic's Checklist For Whiplash Injury: 1. Rule out instability DMX 2. Maximize pain control through oral medications 3. Emphasize short and long term rehabilitation 4. Work up for paralysis, weakness, and/or radicular pain (nerve injury) MRI 5. Reassess for central/peripheral nervous system complaints after appropriate work-up Nerve Test 6. Surgical consultation for severe injuries 7. Be aware of the potential for subsequent injuries.

3. A. A. Pain Clinic's Checklist For Whiplash Injury

What is DMX?

Dynamic Motion X-ray (DMX) is a new application of old techniques previously known as fluoroscopy, cine-radiography, and/or video fluoroscopy. The original prototypes were developed in the 1930s, and have evolved with time and new technology. In the beginning the fluoroscopy background was black with the projected image being white. This type of imaging often times resulted in blurred and unreadable images when the patient moved.

Our DMX Department's mission is to efficaciously diagnose injuries and muscular skeletal abnormalities, as well as provide the visualization to preform various blocks and therapeutic procedures utilizing FDA approved x-ray techniques found nowhere else in Alaska.

Our DMX Department's goal is to provide our referring practitioners and patients with the highest possible quality of dynamic diagnostic imaging. It is our aim to give our referring practitioners and patients the imaging information needed to get the appropriate medical treatment for the patient's particular injury or abnormality. With the correct documentation and diagnosis, medical practitioners will be able to manage and control their patient's pain more effectively, which, in turn, will improve the patient's quality of life.

With advances in the computer industry, it is now possible to change the video x-ray background to white, and project a black image thereby increasing the clarity of the x-ray. DMX was developed to use a low-dose generator and custom image intensifier to produce crystal clear motion images with less radiation than traditional x-rays. All of these advances enables physicians or other medical practitioners to view the patient's injury(s) and/or abnormality(s) while the patient is performing the activities that cause their painful conditions. DMX visualizes and records the injury in motion, along with picture in a picture imagery (allowing for simultaneous internal and external views of the patient) in real time (30 frames per second) and gives conclusive, clinically objective findings proving the extent, location, and nature of injuries that were previously unable to be observed. As a result, the patient's condition is more efficaciously diagnosed, and a treatment plan can be more specifically targeted to the injury. Payers are more likely to reimburse medical charges and patient care with DMX's irrefutable objective documentation of an injury or abnormality.

DMX is also used as a visualization tool for doing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The crystal clear vision that the DMX offers facilitates and documents the correct placement of the needle(s) and/or catheter(s) used in such procedures.

DMX Testing and Use:

DMX testing can be done for and/or on the following to document normal or abnormal findings:

    - - TMJ
    - - Foot
    - - Cervical Spine
    - - Lumbar Area
    - - Toe
    - - Shoulder
    - - Chest
    - - Hip
    - - Elbow
    - - Pelvis
    - - Wrist
    - - Finger
    - - Ankle
    - - Scoliosis Screening
    - - Skeletal fracture alignment
    - - External and internal skeletal fixation

DMX supplies low dose x-ray visualization for the following diagnostic and therapeutic procedures:

    - - Major and minor joint injections
    - - Facet blocks
    - - Arthrograms and Discograms
    - - Epidural injections
    - - Epiduragrams and Mylograms
    - - Neurolytic injections
    - - Epidural stimulator placement
    - - Nerve root blocks
    - - Intrathecal catheter placement
    - - Sympathetic blocks
    - - Barium Swallows
    - - Stellate ganglion injections
    - - Manipulation under anesthesia

Some examples of DMX testing results are as follows:

    - - Diagnose temporomandibular joint disorders.
    - - Diagnose and locate foreign bodies in soft tissue.
    - - Diagnose causes of headaches, dizziness and/or blurred vision.
    - - Diagnose causes of pain and/or stiffness in the head, neck, back and limbs.
    - - Confirm fractures.
    - - Confirm aberrant range of motion.
    - - Confirm suspected ligamentous instability.
    - - Confirm non-unions with pseudo-arthrosis.
    - - Confirm normal or abnormal movement of bones and joints.
    - - Confirm normal or abnormal motion of total joint prosthesis.
    - - Confirm suspected supportive soft tissue lesions in symptomatic patients.

A. A. Pain Clinic's Checklist For Whiplash Injury:

1. Rule out instability DMX

2. Maximize pain control through oral medications

3. Emphasize short and long term rehabilitation

4. Work up for paralysis, weakness, and/or radicular pain (nerve injury) MRI

5. Reassess for central/peripheral nervous system complaints after appropriate work-up Nerve Test

6. Surgical consultation for severe injuries

7. Be aware of the potential for subsequent injuries.