Your doctors will work closely with you to evaluate your injury, and to find all of the damaged bones, tendons, ligaments, muscles, or soft tissue. Here are some of the tools they will use:
X-rays: An x-ray is a picture of the bones in your body. X-rays are used to find damaged, broken or dislocated bones, or to detect unhealthy bones with conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis.
Computed Tomography Scan (CT or CAT): This painless scan creates an image using an X-ray sensing unit and a computer. The sensing unit—also called a gantry—circles your body while you lie on a table. The resulting images are more complete than a flat x-ray. The CT scan can show your doctors if you have any muscle or bone disorders, find the location of an infection, or locate internal injuries.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): An MRI creates images of your head and body that are much more detailed than x-rays. It uses radio waves and magnetic fields to see your nerves, discs, spinal cord, tendons, ligaments and muscles—all of the body parts that x-rays can't see.
Compartment Pressure Testing (CPT): If you have pain in a leg that worsens with exercise, your doctor may order a CPT to determine if you have chronic exertional compartment syndrome. While this test is very safe, it is invasive, and you will need to bring on the pain you feel when exercising.
Bone Scan:When your doctor believes you may have a trauma or infection in the bone, a bone scan is the best way to find out. The bone scan uses a radioactive "tracer" to locate damage, infection, and even cancer in the bone before an x-ray will reveal any problem.
Bone Density Test (DEXA): If you have had an unusual number of fractures in a short period of time, your doctor may order this non-invasive, painless test. The bone density test is used to check for osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to lose mass and become fragile. You will lie down on a table while an x-ray scanner takes pictures of your bones.
