If you’ve been in a car accident, you may need a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. These thorough scans can reveal injuries and guide in recovery.
The Tulsa Accident Care Center is equipped with state-of-the-art imaging equipment, including an MRI machine. Auto accident specialist Robert Mitchell, MD, and our team of certified nurse practitioners can evaluate, diagnose, and treat a full range of auto accident injuries at our facility here in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In this blog, Dr. Mitchell explains more about what these scans can do and how they can help you.
An MRI machine is a large tube filled with magnets that uses radio waves and a magnetic field to generate images of structures in the body. MRI scans can detect injuries that X-rays can’t. Furthermore, they can reveal the type of injury and the severity.
Because of these benefits, they can provide key insights and help doctors determine the most appropriate way to treat a variety of injuries.
More than 4.5 million car accidents occurred in the United States in 2019 alone, according to the National Safety Council. And while broken bones are undoubtedly among those injuries — which can be detected by X-rays — many injuries involve soft tissues and organs, which X-rays can’t detect.
This makes it wise to visit an accident center equipped with an MRI machine. An MRI scan can allow your doctor to view bones, joints, and soft tissues, such as your tendons and cartilage.
Without an MRI scan, determining the age of an injury can be difficult. An MRI scan can help a doctor see if an injury was the result of a recent accident, if it occurred long ago, or if it is a chronic issue.
The radiologist will evaluate the diagnostic image, and Dr. Mitchell will conduct a thorough analysis of the findings. The radiologist will look for signs of acute trauma as well as degenerative changes in the anatomy, which could indicate a more chronic condition.
Spine and neck injuries are common ailments sustained from car accidents. Whiplash occurs when the force of the accident causes your head to jolt forcefully forward then backward. An MRI scan can help diagnose spine and neck injuries, such as whiplash.
Dr. Mitchell can use an MRI scan to rule out fractures, slipped discs, and other severe injuries that can result from a neck injury. No matter if your neck injury is severe or minor, Dr. Mitchell can tailor a treatment plan to help you get well as quickly as possible.
Patients who seek treatment as soon as possible are less likely to experience chronic pain as a result of their injury. If you’ve been in a car accident, contact Tulsa Accident Care Center to schedule your initial consultation.
Our specialists will guide you through the diagnostic process and develop a personalized treatment plan to help you recover. To learn more, call 918-372-3694 or book an appointment online with Tulsa Accident Care Center today.
