Now, Open Standing Weight Bearing MRI is available for patients with spine problems in Gujarat. Ahmedabad Stavya Spine Hospital has introduced this diagnostic machine. State Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated it on Thursday.
The advanced spine diagnostic machine is manufactured by Esaote SpA Italy. Dheeraj Nasa, country business director – Esaote Subsidiary (India and Indian sub-continent), claimed that though the technology has been available all over the world for more than a decade, this version with AI technology has been introduced for the first time in India. In fact, it is for the first time in South-East Asia, he added.
Doctors at Stavya Spine Hospital, which is over two decades old, told media persons on Friday that unlike conventional MRIs, which require patients to lie in supine position for higher resolution imaging, this machine allows for weight-bearing assessments of the spine.
Spine surgeon Dr. Mirant Dave told Vibes of India that open-standing MRI is an essential tool for conditions where dynamic, functional imaging is critical. As it has AI technology, it gives minute details that are not detected in conventional MRI machines.
He said this open-standing weight-bearing MRI is good for patients whose results come false negative in routine MRIs despite having pain. This advanced technology is also good for patients with claustrophobia or anxiety about traditional MRI machines. It provides a more comfortable and open environment. This technology can also be used to image the knee and hip in weight-bearing positions.
Dr. Bharat Dave, director of the hospital and spine surgeon, told Vibes of India that it is based on clinical examination that the doctor decides which MRI to opt for. If the doctor requires more details to compare with the patient’s past MRI then this advanced MRI is recommended.
In the traditional MRI there are often false negatives in patients who get pain while standing or sitting.
Nasa said that they have found grade I lesions in traditional MRI and when the open standing weight bearing MRI is opted for then the result is Grade II or Grade III lesions.
The doctors said that there is no difference in the cost of the MRI. The advanced machine is also environment friendly as it creates less noise and requires no gas as compared to the traditional MRI machine that needs helium gas. The latest machine works on 3 KV as compared to the traditional MRI machine that requires 50 KV.
Dr. Bharat Dave specified that the introduction of the new technology does not mean that the traditional machine won’t be used. The new radiological machine is complementary to the old one and aids to find out what remains hidden in the traditional MRI.
The spine surgeon said that out of the 100 patients they see, 90 do not require surgical intervention and the problems can be solved with lifestyle modifications. The Hospital sees around 25,000 patients with complaints of back and neck pain during the year. Out of these, around 2,200 to 2,500 are from Ahmedabad, the doctors said.
Stavya Spine Hospital, Dr Bharat Dave, said they are prepared to launch a new centre of Excellence in 2025. The landmark facility will expand Stavya’s capabilities, featuring advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, increased capacity for patient care and dedicated spaces for research and education.
