ON SITE FACILTIES - ALL THIS UNDER ONE ROOF

At Columbia Orthopaedic Group in Columbia, Missouri, we provide you with comprehensive orthopedic and sports medicine care. Our goal is to get you well and back to your regular routine as quickly as possible. For your convenience, we offer a wide range of ancillary services in our office, including:


DIGITAL X-RAY

Digital x-rays are superior to traditional film x-rays because they provide larger, clearer, color-enhanced images that result in a more accurate diagnosis. In addition, the size and shape of the x-ray system allows for faster and easier positioning that can lead to less stress for injured or ill patients. You are also exposed to much less radiation (up to 90% less) than traditional X-rays.

CT SCAN

Traditional X-rays use a stationary X-ray machine to create two-dimensional images of a specific area of your body, much like a photograph. During a CT scan, or computerized tomography, an X-ray unit rotates around your body and takes cross-sectional 3-D pictures, like slices, of the inside of your body. A computer then integrates these images to show bones and soft tissues with greater detail and clarity than regular x-rays. CT scans are used to visualize injuries to bones and surrounding soft tissues such as tendons, ligaments, and muscles.

OPEN MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, uses a magnetic field and a sophisticated computer system to give reliable and detailed images of the body. In orthopaedics, we use MRI for high quality images of soft tissue areas such as tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Our open MRI machine produces very clear images of the extremities, including the hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, foot and ankle.

MRI can help provide information for a fast and accurate diagnosis and possibly reduce the need for exploratory surgery or other diagnostic procedures. Our open MRI machine was designed with your comfort in mind by providing spacious, stress-free accommodations for claustrophobic or larger patients.

FLUOROSCOPY

Fluoroscopy is an imaging technique that shows a continuous x-ray image on a monitor, much like an x-ray movie. During fluoroscopy, an x-ray beam is passed through the body and the image is transmitted to a monitor so that the body part and its motion can be seen in detail. In orthopaedics, we use fluoroscopy during surgery, most often when repairing fractures or operating on the spine.

OUTPATIENT SURGICAL CENTER

Advances in orthopaedic surgical techniques mean that an increasing number of surgeries can be performed as outpatient procedures. That's why Columbia Orthopaedic Group is pleased to have a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center within our office. For your convenience, we will schedule your appointment on site after your appointment and before you leave our office.

Our ambulatory surgery center offers same day surgery and features the latest in cutting-edge medical equipment and surgical devices to allow our physicians to perform the most effective technique for each case.

VISIT SURGICAL CENTER

PHARMACY

The Pharmacy at Columbia Orthopaedic Group is a full service pharmacy to make your trip to Columbia Orthopaedic Group even easier. Once you've seen your physician, you can pick up your prescription on the way out the door. This provides fast, friendly service for patients who don't want to wait for pain relief. In addition to prescription services, we offer a variety of over-the-counter medications and medical supplies. Our pharmacist, Triston Brownfield, is here to provide you with answers to all of your prescription and over-the-counter medication questions. We are conveniently located by the entrance to the main lobby. It's one more way Columbia Orthopaedic Group is committed to "Moving You Forward."

VISCOSUPPLEMENTATION THERAPY

Viscosupplementation therapy is an appropriate treatment for people with knee arthritis that has failed to respond to more conservative therapy. A solution of hyaluronic acid is injected directly into the knee joint to restore the cushioning and lubricating properties of normal joint fluid. It is useful for people who are trying to delay surgery or are not candidates for knee replacement surgery. Viscosupplementation injections are typically given weekly for 3 or 4 weeks and provide pain relief for several months.

PRP AND ACP THERAPY

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is a revolutionary procedure that uses components of the body's own blood cells to stimulate the natural healing process in certain orthopedic conditions.

To obtain platelet-rich plasma, a small amount of blood is drawn from the patient and placed in a centrifuge, which spins at a high speed and separates platelets from red blood cells. The platelet-rich plasma, which contains 3 to 10 times more platelets than normal blood, is then injected into the site of injury. Filled with healing and growth factors, platelets jump start the repair process and attract the essential aid of stem cells. PRP therapy's natural healing process accelerates the body's efforts by delivering a higher concentration of platelets through a simple injection.

Autologous conditioned plasma (ACP), which features different proportions of platelets and other cells, is another form of PRP therapy. Both PRP and ACP therapy provide effective pain relief and faster healing, and can eliminate the need for surgery and prolonged recovery.

PRP therapy is showing promising results with osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder, hip and spine, as well as rotator cuff tears, chronic plantar fasciitis, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, cartilage injuries, tennis elbow, ankle sprains, tendonitis, ligament sprains and fractures.

DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT (DME)

For your convenience, we offer an extensive inventory of DME products, including braces, crutches, walkers, orthotics, splints for surgical and non-surgical treatment, as well as equipment specifically designed for post-surgical care. Since our DME supplies are right in our office, you can head home with the items you need after your visit or procedure; there's no need to go anywhere else.

THE BONE HEALTH CENTER

Osteoporosis is a silent disease, and, in the absence of screening, a fracture or broken bone can be the first symptom. Each year nearly 2 million fractures occur in the United States as a result of osteoporosis and low bone density. One in two women and one in four men will have at least one of these fractures. A woman's risk of breaking a hip due to osteoporosis is equal to her risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined. And a man age 50 or older is more likely to break a bone due to osteoporosis than he is to get prostate cancer.

Broken bones can affect physical, mental and emotional health, and in some cases, result in death. Fractures can result in decreased mobility which negatively effects independence. Spine fractures can cause chronic pain, breathing problems, decreased appetite and increase fall risk. Hip fractures often cause long term disability, and one in five patients with a hip fracture does not live beyond a year due to problems following the injury.

The Bone Health Center at Columbia Orthopaedic Group was established in January 2013. Our primary focus is to decrease the risk of fragility fractures. We perform a complete medical history and physical examination of our patients to determine risk factors for fracture. We obtain appropriate lab work to find secondary causes of bone loss. When appropriate, we send patients for a bone density test (DEXA). All of this information is used to eliminate other causes of bone loss, determine each patient's specific risk for fracture, initiate appropriate anti-osteoporosis treatment, and monitor response to therapy.

There are a variety of factors – both controllable and uncontrollable – that put you at risk for developing osteoporosis. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about your risk factors for osteoporosis and together you can develop a plan to protect your bones.

Uncontrollable Risk Factors:

  • Being over age 50
  • Being female
  • Menopause
  • Family history of osteoporosis
  • Low body weight/being small and thin
  • Broken bones or height loss

Controllable Risk Factors:

  • Not getting enough calcium and vitamin D
  • Not eating enough fruits and vegetables
  • Getting too much protein, sodium and caffeine
  • Having an inactive lifestyle
  • Smoking
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Losing weight
  • There are also medications and diseases that can cause bone loss and increase your risk of osteoporosis

Andrew James, MBA, MSN, Adult Health CNS, runs the Bone Health Center at Columbia Orthopaedic Group.