Paraspinal Digital Infrared Imaging confines the area of examination to the regions located directly next to the spine. Spinal problems can cause nervous system dysfunction which manifests in the paraspinal region. The images provide objective information to help the doctor in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment after it has been rendered.
Given the critical role of the nervous system in health and disease, paraspinal imaging is performed on a daily basis at our center to monitor the nervous system. A hand-held unit is utilized instead of a camera for ease of use and to reduce the cost of the procedure for the patient. The protocols are almost identical to the camera studies with a few slight differences. In the case of a cervical spine (neck) examination, the acclimation occurs in the waiting room since no disrobing is required. Our entire office is climate controlled to allow for this convenience. The patient simply loosens their collar and removes all jewelry from the neck. If the entire spine is to be imaged, then the patient will acclimate in a treatment room. With the patient seated, the doctor will move the paraspinal unit along the spinal region of interest. This information is then sent to a special computer for analysis. Measurements are compared with established normal values to determine if certain spinal areas are disturbing normal nervous system function. This examination takes approximately 5-10 seconds to complete making it very practical for daily use.
