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How Spine Surgeons and Digital Motion X-Ray Work Together

Using Motion-Based Imaging to Clarify Surgical and Non-Surgical Paths

Not every spinal problem needs surgery and not every surgery solves the problem if the full picture of instability wasn’t understood beforehand. That’s why more surgeons and patients are asking for motion-based imaging as part of complex decision-maki

At DMX Miami, we provide Digital Motion X-Ray studies for patients referred by or considering spine surgeons in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Miami-Dade, Broward, the Florida Keys, elsewhere in Florida and the USA, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

What Surgeons Need to Know Before Operating

Spine surgeons typically rely on:

  • MRI – for discs, nerves, and soft tissues.
  • CT – for bone detail and certain complex anatomy.
  • X-rays – for alignment and, sometimes, basic flexion/extension views.

They need to answer questions like:

  • Is there nerve compression causing objective weakness or progressive neurologic loss?
  • Is there obvious spinal cord compression or myelopathy?
  • Are there instability patterns that may require fusion vs. decompression alone?

Digital Motion X-Ray adds to this toolkit by providing a real-time view of spinal movement.

What Digital Motion X-Ray Contributes

Digital Motion X-Ray at DMX Miami:

  • Captures fluoroscopic video of the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine during controlled motion.
  • Measures segmental translation and angulation under load.
  • Identifies levels where ligaments may no longer maintain adequate stability.
  • Distinguishes between segments that are stable but degenerative vs. truly unstable.

This information can impact whether surgery is:

  • Recommended vs. avoided.
  • Limited to certain levels vs. extended.
  • Combined with fusion vs. decompression alone.

Examples of How Surgeons May Use DMX Findings

While each case is unique, DMX can help surgeons:

  • Confirm levels of instability in post-traumatic cases (car accidents, falls, sports injuries).
  • Better understand persistent symptoms after a prior surgery (adjacent segment or residual instability).
  • Correlate disabling motion-related pain with specific levels that appear unstable.
  • Provide more comprehensive explanations to patients about why surgery is or is not recommended.

Ultimately, the surgeon decides if and how to operate but DMX can provide extra clarity for those decisions.

DMX Before and After Spine Surgery

In some cases, DMX may be used:

  • Before surgery – to help map instability and assist in planning.
  • After surgery – in carefully selected cases, to evaluate the motion of adjacent segments or areas not fused.

Any post-surgical imaging is done only in coordination with your surgeon to ensure safety and appropriateness.

How DMX Helps Patients Considering Surgery

For patients weighing surgery, DMX can:

  • Provide a clearer picture of what is actually moving abnormally.
  • Help explain why certain non-surgical treatments haven’t worked.
  • Support second opinions by offering objective, motion-based data.
  • Give peace of mind that all reasonable imaging has been explored before making a big decision.

This is especially valuable for international patients from Latin America and the Caribbean who come to Miami for both imaging and surgical consultations.

Collaboration, Not Competition

At DMX Miami, we view spine surgery as:

  • Sometimes necessary.
  • Sometimes avoidable.
  • Always better when based on a complete understanding of spinal structure and function.

We collaborate with surgeons by:

  • Providing detailed DMX reports and key images or clips (as appropriate).
  • Communicating in language that’s clear for both providers and patients.
  • Respecting that the surgeon makes the final call on surgical indications.

Better Data Leads to Better Decisions Surgical or Not

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Whether you ultimately choose surgery, continue with non-surgical care, or combine approaches, you deserve decisions based on the best available information.

Learn more: Treatment
Schedule your appointment today: Appointments

Call 305-275-7475 or book your appointment online

Dr. Rodolfo Alfonso, D.C.
Dr. Mark N. Berry, D.C.
Sunset Chiropractic and Wellness
8585 Sunset Dr. STE 102
Miami, Florida 33143