Interventional radiology
The principle of interventional radiology involves accessing a lesion located inside the body to perform a diagnostic procedure (sampling or biopsy) or therapeutic procedure through the infiltration of corticosteroids, plasma rich in platelets (prp) or by crushing calcifications as well as drainage of abscesses and haematoma
The treating staff explain to the patient how the procedure progresses. The patient is installed and the radiologist performs injections in the painful areas of the body under local anaesthesia (except for infiltration of plasma rich in platelets). These injections are radiologically guided and are aimed at providing relief for people suffering from tendonitis, arthritis, capsulitis, bursitis, tenosynovitis, slipped disc or spinal compression.
The products used for infiltration are cortisone and plasma rich in platelets or PRP. Corticosteroids, known for their powerful anti-inflammatory effect, provide relief for many types of pain. PRP is obtained from a patient’s blood. It stimulates healing and recovery, in particular for tendonitis and bursitis.
The crushing of tendinous calcifications under local anaesthesia also relieves patients. The examination involves fragmenting, washing, aspiring and even removing, using two needles, the major part of calcification responsible for pain contained in a tendon.
Interventional radiology procedures last between 15 and 20 minutes. The benefit can be instant or be felt after a few hours.
All patients in the centre have direct access by telephone to their radiologist after the procedure. In some cases, the radiology centre will inform you of the need to be accompanied.
Strict contraindications to MRI are: metal fragments in the eyeball or a pacemaker. Patients with a heart valve or surgical clips for brain aneurysms must provide the model and number of their valve or clip, to check compatibility with the MRI. Claustrophobia is a relative contraindication.