Using MRIs for Car Accident Injury Diagnosis

Even though many of today’s vehicles are equipped with anti-crash technology and other safety features, the reality is that car accidents still happen. And they happen a lot. The extent of the injuries a victim suffers often depends on the extent of the crash, however, even what may appear as a minor crash can end up causing serious injury. This is why crash victims should always seek medical attention immediately following an accident.

Car Crash Injuries

When there is an impact between a vehicle with another vehicle, the body goes through trauma. The more force the impact has, the more force is put on the body, leaving vehicle occupants vulnerable to injuries that involve many parts of the body.

Some of the more common areas that suffer crash injuries included the head, face, neck, spine, discs, knees, and hands. While many injuries are obvious because they are on the outside of the body, such as lacerations and bruises, others are not so obvious because the injury is internal. The victim may suffer symptoms right away, such as in the case of a fractured bone, but there are also injuries where it can take hours – if not days – before they begin to suffer signs that something is wrong.

One of the best tools that doctors have in diagnosing injuries in victims is by ordering a Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. An MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves in order to generate images of the different areas of the body. An MRI can even take images of discs, organs, and tissues. The scan itself is non-invasive yet provides doctors with a solid way of seeing what is going on with the patient’s organs, tissues, and skeletal system and allows the doctor to come up with the best treatment plan for the injuries they diagnose.

How Is an MRI Performed?

The MRI machine itself looks like a long narrow tube and has openings on both ends. The patient lies down on a table that slides into the opening of the tube. Just like when you are having an X-ray, the technician performing the MRI stands in another room or a booth in the MRI room.

The machine creates a strong magnetic field around the patient and radio waves are then directed at the body. The patient does not feel any of the waves or the field. In fact, the procedure is completely painless. Some patients may suffer from claustrophobia and if that is the case, they may be given a mild medication to help them relax during the test.

The test can be noisy because of the sounds coming from the machines, so patients are often given earplugs or there may be music playing to help relax the patient and block the noise.

The entire procedure should take no more than an hour. Once it is complete, the doctor will be able to diagnose what types of injuries the patient has suffered and what the best course of treatment will be.

Contact a Virginia Car Accident Attorney

Head, neck, spine injuries, and other internal injuries are unfortunately common car accident injuries, and they are often very serious. An MRI can help determine those injuries and just how serious they are. Getting a diagnosis right away instead of days or weeks later can risk having the injury and your condition getting worse.

From medical treatments to long-term care expenses, these injuries can lead to significant financial difficulties. At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, our team of Virginia car accident lawyers has years of experience working with car accident victims. Call our office today to schedule a free case evaluation.

 

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