RESEARCH NEWS DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL IMAGING AT THE AECC
As well as offering a professional x-ray service in its outpatient clinic and a range of ultrasound services for both patients and postgraduate students, The AECC has continued to update its services with the addition of Quantitative Fluoroscopy in 2009 and the Open Upright MRI scanner in 2014. This combination of advanced technologies is not available anywhere else in the world. It places the AECC at the forefront of special imaging facilities in the country, offering a foundation for excellence in both undergraduate and postgraduate training.
Quantitative Fluoroscopy (QF)
QF (formerly named OSMIA, or Objective Spinal Motion Imaging Assessment) is a highly advanced spinal motion imaging assessment technology. Measuring inter-vertebral motion in the neck and low back reveals not only whether the segments of the spine are moving and stable, but in which direction.
QF was developed at the AECC by Professor Alan Breen and his team in the Institute of Musculoskeletal Research and Clinical Implementation (IMRCI). It has since been exported to the USA where it received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance and is now in use in surgical hospitals. In terms of its function at the AECC, its key use has been for research under grants from funders including the National Institute of Health Research and the European Chiropractors’ Union. This has allowed AECC researchers to measure the accuracy and precision of its measurements as well as establish its low x-ray dosage for patients. As QF becomes established within the AECC’s family of special imaging services the clinical benefits are clear to see. QF is a highly accurate special investigation tool reserved for patients whose spinal problems are difficult to resolve and need more in-depth biomechanical diagnosis. It is a useful tool for chiropractors and a range of other healthcare
Bournemouth Open Upright MRI
The Bournemouth Open Upright MRI is the newest of the AECC’s family of advanced imaging technologies. It consists of a 0.5T superconducting magnet which can provide high quality images of the spine and extremities. The facility is run by Melanie Jones MSc, a highly experienced Superintendent Radiographer, previously of Oxford University. She is supported by Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist, Dr Andy Morris and his colleagues who provide reading and reporting services to referrers.
The Open and Upright MRI is effective in allowing clinicians to carry out MRI scans for weight bearing joint problems, however it is also a source of great comfort for people who are claustrophobic, because it is open to the sky and does not have the closed in feeling that many patients receive with a standard tunnel MRI. The new scanner, made by the Paramed company of Genoa is one of only five in the UK. It is receiving a high volume of referrals as well as attracting a lot of interest from biomedical research departments in UK universities, promising new research collaborations as well as enhanced training for our students and graduates. Exciting times lie ahead for special imaging at the AECC.
QF facility referrals to:
imrci.abreen@aecc.ac.uk
MRI referrals to: Above: The Special Imaging Team 13
enquiries@boumri.co.uk
specialists to assess whether a patient will benefit from spinal surgery, or a specific exercise programme which can reduce unnecessary costs and risks to the patient. The QF facility is receiving referrals from far and wide for the advanced assessment of problem spinal complaints. Because it is a new service, in order to refer, clinicians should email: imrci.abreen@aecc.
ac.uk directly to discuss their requirements.
RESEARCH NEWS
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