Outpatient Testing

As a result of your consultation with Dr. El-Kadi, additional testing may be ordered. These tests will provide him with information related to your condition and care. The following section will provide you with some background information about each test and why it may be ordered. When testing is ordered from our office, we will obtain the necessary insurance pre-authorization and scheduling at a facility of your choice that is covered within your insurance plan. Once the insurance authorization is obtained, a staff member from our office will contact you with your appointment for both your test and follow-up with Dr. El-Kadi. If Dr. El-Kadi orders a test and you have not been contacted within one week, please call our office at 1-877-635-5234.

X-Ray

This is a side, or lateral, x-ray view of the cervical spine.

An x-ray is used to visualize bones in your back. Dr. El-Kadi may order x-rays of you bending forwards and backwards to check for any instability in your spine. X-rays often do not need insurance pre-authorization or scheduled appointments.

MRI

MRI study of the cervical spine

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to evaluate the nerves and soft tissues. An MRI uses a powerful magnetic field to visualize internal structures in the body. These tests require insurance pre-authorization and will be scheduled by our office staff. You may choose the facility where you would like the MRI to be done. It is important to notify our clinical staff if you have a pacemaker or metal clips in your body because you may not be able to have an MRI done. Also, if you work in an occupation that involves machinery or metal, you may require orbital x-rays prior to the MRI. Please notify our staff in advance, if this is the case. In addition, MRI scans can be ordered with contrast dye. Often, this dye is used in patients who have had previous surgery to help differentiate scar tissue. Some patients will require blood work before receiving contrast dye, and our staff will notify you if this is the case. Prior to leaving the facility, they will provide you with a CD of your images or films to bring with you to your office visit with Dr. El-Kadi.

Myelogram/CT scan

CT scan of the cervical scan

Myelograms are ordered when additional information is needed that cannot be obtained from the MRI. They also can be ordered for patients that are unable to have an MRI scan. During this procedure, a radiologist injects a water-soluble, iodine-based dye into the spinal canal. You should drink plenty of fluids but no alcohol prior to and following the myelogram to help the kidneys excrete the dye. After the myelogram, you will have a CT scan taken. Unlike a regular CT scan, the dye from the myelogram allows the nerves to be clearly visualized during the CT scan. Some medications need to be discontinued before the myelogram, and during your office visit with Dr. El-Kadi you should review your home medications in detail with his clinical staff. They will instruct you which medications need to be discontinued before the test and when. Some patients will require blood work before receiving contrast dye, and our staff will notify you if this is the case. Prior to leaving the facility, they will provide you with a CD of your images or films to bring with you to your office visit with Dr. El-Kadi. You will also need someone to drive you home from this test.

Bone Scan

In this whole body bone scan, the tracer accumulates in areas of greater inflammation.

A bone scan is nuclear medicine scan that can be ordered to look for any inflammation in the bone tissue. This test requires insurance authorization and scheduling, which is obtained through our office. You may choose the facility where you would like the bone scan to be done. This test requires an injection into your vein of a tracer. The tracer moves through your blood and into the bones. Several hours later, a scan is taken. The tracer will show increased uptake in areas of rapid bone growth or repair, and this may indicate pathology in this area.

White Blood Cell Scan

A white blood cell scan is a nuclear medicine scan that can be done to look for sites of infection. This test requires insurance authorization and scheduling, which is obtained through our office. You may choose the facility where you would like the WBC scan to be done. At most facilities, WBC scans focused on spine are done over a two-day period. On the first day, you will go and have blood drawn. After the blood draw, the tracer is tagged to white blood cells in your blood. Several hours later, you will return to the facility. Your white blood cells with the tracer will be administered back to you. Then on the following day, you will return for a scan. The white blood cells will group at sites of infection in the body. This test is not always necessary in order to diagnose infection, but it can provide a helpful piece of information.

Preoperative testing

If you are scheduling surgery with Dr. El-Kadi, a prescription was given to you for preoperative testing. This prescription includes blood work, urinalysis, chest x-ray and EKG. These tests do not require you to fast, and they are not scheduled through our office. You may choose the facility where you would like these tests to be done, and at many facilities these orders do not require an appointment. On your prescription, there are instructions for the facility to fax your results to our office and also to your family physician’s office. Please notify the facility of your family physician’s name and phone number in order for them to receive your results. The testing will assist your family physician during your preoperative medical evaluation. Additional testing may be required before your surgery, but this decision is made on an individual basis.