Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy is a real-time imaging technique that uses continuous X-rays to create a “live video” of structures inside the body.

Unlike a standard X-ray, which produces a static snapshot, fluoroscopy allows clinicians to watch moving structures and instruments in real time. Contrast dye is often used to visualize vessels, joints or spaces in the spine.
In interventional pain medicine, fluoroscopy is a cornerstone technology. It guides precise needle placement for procedures such as epidural steroid injections, facet joint blocks, sacroiliac joint injections, discography and radiofrequency treatments. By showing anatomy dynamically and from multiple angles (for example, oblique or “Y-view”), fluoroscopy improves accuracy, reduces the risk of complications and increases procedural safety.

Although it exposes patients and clinicians to low levels of radiation, careful technique and shielding minimize risk. For many interventional procedures, fluoroscopy remains the gold standard for safe and effective pain management.