My Spine - Cervical
A
B
Figure 8.2 The mobile X-ray machine (fluoroscopy unit)
This mobile X-ray machine is used extensively to confirm the anatomy and
position of the bony structures of the spine as well as confirming that the level
of surgery performed is the intended level. It is also used to confirm that
spinal instrumentation is properly inserted and fixed if there is any instru-
mentation required for your procedure.
It has two heads fixed on a C-arm (B) and this generates and receives the X-
ray beams. The screen (A) shows the resulting images and modern machines
have recording functions and can even measure distances.
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