Lumbar Spine Surgery
Last week, I assisted the clinical officer of the clinic, where I volunteer in a radiography procedure called the x-ray of the lumbar. The procedure uses x-ray technology that uses small amounts of x-ray radiation to take pictures of the lower part of the back/spine. The image is recorded and displayed on a computer or printed out in a film that is sensitive to Xray radiation. Through the picture, the doctor can diagnose the causes of pain deformity and swelling on the spine, muscle problems, nerve complications, or arthritis. The procedure is also used to monitor the progress of diseases such as osteoporosis and to keep track of the healing process of patients with broken bones on the spine.
During the x-ray procedure, my role was to guide the patient on how to position himself and took x-ray photos. The patient has to place his leg in a lateral and horizontal position. The diagnosis was that the patient who was being treated for arthritis was responding well to treatment. I had to help the patient to turn because he was in a lot of pain due to severe nature pain.
For protection, I wore a lead-coated apron and gloves to protect me from exposure to x-rays. I also ensured that I stood away from the x-ray tube and the x-ray beam. I got the chance to practice and witness first-hand what I had learned in class about radiography procedures and patient-nurse relationships. I interacted with the patient directly by ensuring that he was comfortable during the process and reassuring him that the x-ray would not increase the pain and that the procedure was necessary to determine the location and the extent of the fracture. The procedure played a crucial role for me as a radiography professional in terms of experience.