As doctors with a sworn duty to heal our patients to the best of our abilities, we take the idea of professional development seriously. At Charlottesville Orthopaedic Center, it is our goal to continuously provide the best therapies and treatments available to our clients. With constant advancements in technology, new tools for diagnosis and treatment are being introduced at an increasing rate, making traditionally painful or difficult-to-understand diagnoses a thing of the past. We are thrilled that these new tools make life easier not only for us, but for our patients as well.

One of the newest tools we have introduced to our practice is VisionScope. This state of the art imaging system provides an easy, virtually painless way for us to clearly see what is going on with a joint injury. Previously, our only options for diagnostic imaging were x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. While these technologies work, they also pose some problems. Clients were forced to make separate appointments for getting these scans, which could cause delays in treatment. Some scan, such as MRIs, can take a long time to complete, and involve laying in a large, noisy tube, which posed a problem for our claustrophobic patients. Sometimes the scan images were not clear, or didn’t provide the whole picture as to what was going on with the injury. The scans worked, just not elegantly.

VisionScope has changed all of this. Now, clients coming to our practice can have imaging of a problem joint done in-house in as little as thirty minutes. The process starts with an initial consultation, where the doctor finds out what symptoms the patient is experiencing. If the doctor determines that the joint problem requires further examination, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area where the VisionScope will be used. Using a needle, the doctor will inject a small tube that will allow a very small camera to slide through, giving us a close-up look at the inside of the joint. This way, there is no ambiguity – the doctor can see exactly what is going on, the extent of the damage, and what treatments options are available.

Not only does VisionScope provide the opportunity for our doctors to quickly and painlessly diagnose our patients, it allows our patients to get back to doing normal, everyday activities immediately. The only after care required for a VisionScope diagnosis is a Band-Aid. Many insurance companies cover the procedure as well, making it accessible to most clients as part of a diagnosis for their joint pain.

But don’t just take our word on this amazing technology – watch for yourself to see how quickly and easily VisionScope can help us diagnose and create a treatment plan for one of our clients.