What is Digital Motion X-Ray (DMX)?

Digital motion x-ray (DMX) is an image-intensified fluoroscopic x-ray system that allows the clinician to take x-rays while the patient moves. The digital motion x-ray makes a digital movie of a moving part of the body (spine, hip, knee, ankle, foot, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, and TMJ). This amazing digital technology can help diagnose painful conditions that are sometimes missed by motionless x-rays, CAT scans, and MRI’s (magnetic resonance imaging).

How Can (DMX) Digital Motion X-ray Detect Ligament Damage?

When a person has joint damage or instability, it causes an increase in motion between two adjacent bones (aka joint) causing excessive stress on the supporting structures and nerve endings within those structures resulting in chronic pain. The ligaments primary is to connect adjacent bones together and restrict excessive motion between the bones. When ligaments are injured, torn, stretched or weakened the adjacent bones move excessively causing many different types of symptoms and loss of function.

The 2 Types Of Ligament Injuries Diagnosed With Digital Motion X-ray

– Sub-failure-When a ligament stretches or partially tears.

-Complete failure-When a ligament is completely severed.

-Digital Motion X-ray is the only test that will detect sub-failure ligament injuries. MRI does not have the resolution to detect the stretching or an elongation of a ligament.

-MRI can detect a complete failure, which are commonly seen in the knee and shoulder. Sub-failure ligament injuries are most commonly seen in the

-Cervical Spine, TMJ, and Wrist.

-Most injures hurt or increase while the patient is moving or performing a common daily activity.

-The physician is able to see the spine and extremities in full motion which provides more information on function and extent of the damage.

-If you hurt more when you move, then you must be diagnosed while you move.

What Are The 22 Major Cervical Ligament and Functions Tested By Digital Motion X-ray (DMX)

⦁ Right and Left Alar Ligaments- limits head rotation/ Ipsilateral flexion

⦁ Right and Left Accessory Ligaments – limits lateral flexion

⦁ Transverse Ligament – limits head flexion and anterior translation of C1

⦁ Five right Capsular Ligaments – limits axial loading and flexion

⦁ Five left Capsular Ligaments – limits axial loading and flexion

⦁ Five Interspinous Ligaments- limits flexion

⦁ Posterior Longitudinal Ligament- limits hyperflexion

⦁ Anterior Longitudinal Ligament- limits hyperextension

Who Needs A Digital Motion Cervical X-ray (DMX) Study?

Patients with a variety of conditions including neck injuries, headaches, TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction), hand, elbow, shoulder, and scoliosis can benefit from digital motion x-ray studies. Anyone who has been in a motor vehicle accident (even a minor one), or has had a traumatic fall or injury can benefit from the digital motion X-ray analysis. Patients who have problems or symptoms such as headaches, that have not been successfully treated or diagnosed, or when a patient has a certain problem and no one can figure out why-such as when studies come back unremarkable or normal from your doctor but you are still having problems. The truth is the study is not normal but the problem was not found. Digital motion x-rays (DMX) will help the doctor to find the problems because it is motion based and it will reveal the true damage.

After digital motion x-ray (DMX) studies are completed a proper treatment plan for the patient can be developed according to the diagnostic and clinical findings. Digital motion x-ray allows me to see the injury in ways I have never seen before. Hidden injuries are revealed, helping doctors to design a more effective treatment plan for their patient based on a more complete diagnosis.