by
John R. Fischer, Senior Reporter | September 10, 2018
Portable digital X-ray technology was
included for the first time at the
U.S. Open Tennis Championships to assess
athletes' injuries
Portable digital X-ray technology was present on the tennis court for the first time at the 2018 U.S. Open Tennis Championships, provided by Mount Sinai Health System.
Utilizing a GE Optima XR 200, outfitted with Konica Minolta’s AeroDR HD Wireless Flat Panel Detector, the New York-based health system provided high-definition, digital X-rays of the chest, pelvis, spine and extremities for immediate diagnoses of bone and musculoskeletal injuries.
"Mount Sinai is proud to be the official medical service provider of the U.S. Open for the sixth consecutive year,” Dr. Alexis Chiang Colvin, M.D., associate professor of Sports Medicine in the Leni and Peter W. May Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, said in a statement. “Our multidisciplinary sports medicine team provides world class, comprehensive care for these elite athletes. We serve not only the pros, but the juniors and wheelchair athletes as well.”
All examinations were acquired and interpreted by radiologists at the stadium and discussed directly with the medical team.
Producing images of 100-micron pixel size, the AeroDR HD Detector
enables clinicians to switch between high-definition and high dynamic range imaging (HDR). HDR image aggregates data from four pixels for a wide range of grays, allowing for images that reveal subtle details in soft tissue.
The presence of digital radiography enabled athletes to be triaged at the point of care and provided greater confidence in physician-made decisions as to whether or not a player could continue in the tournament based on their type of injury. Its use allowed for complete assessments in faster time.
Diagnostic ultrasound exams were also offered for the fourth year in a row by the department of radiology to examine musculoskeletal injuries. The team utilized LOGIQ e, a portable, laptop-size ultrasound system, also designed by GE Healthcare. Equipped with special settings and probes to diagnose musculoskeletal injuries, the solution can triage patients at point of care and determine if more complex imaging techniques are required depending on the severity of the injuries. Treatment too can be administered with the use of ultrasound-guided injections and aspirations, if necessary.
In addition, a PACS workstation was available, providing high-resolution, medical-grade monitors and a direct link to the hospital imaging archive.