Description
MRI of the Spine and Extremities
PACE and CE Broker Approved
Instructor: James Demetrious, DC, DABCO
- Cost: $250 – 10 CE Hours
- Date: December 12-13, 2026
- Time: 9 AM -2:00 PM EST
- Where: Live Interactive Zoom Conference for “In Person” Credit
Course Description
- This live, interactive 10 CE-hour Zoom course provides chiropractic physicians with a practical, evidence-informed approach to MRI assessment of the spine and extremities. Through systematic image review, clinical correlation, and case-based discussion, participants will strengthen their ability to recognize common and clinically significant abnormalities, develop appropriate differential diagnoses, and make informed treatment, referral, and follow-up recommendations. Emphasis will be placed upon clinical appropriateness criteria, identifying red flags, correlating MRI findings with the clinical examination, and determining when imaging findings should modify chiropractic management.
Hourly Breakdown:
- Hour 1: MRI Fundamentals and Clinical Appropriateness
- MRI physics, imaging planes, pulse sequences, terminology, and artifacts
- Evidence-informed clinical appropriateness criteria
- Contraindications, contrast use, documentation, and imaging recommendations
- Hour 2: Cervical Spine MRI
- Disc degeneration, herniation, stenosis, and nerve-root compromise
- Spinal cord compression, myelopathy, trauma, and ligamentous injury
- Clinical correlation and referral considerations
- Hour 3: Thoracic Spine MRI
- Thoracic disc abnormalities, stenosis, and spinal cord pathology
- Compression fractures, neoplasms, infections, and inflammatory disorders
- Recognition of urgent and emergent findings
- Hour 4: Lumbar Spine MRI
- Disc herniation, degenerative stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and radiculopathy
- Postoperative findings and common imaging mimics
- Correlation of MRI abnormalities with symptoms and examination findings
- Hour 5: Advanced Spinal Imaging and Case Review
- Trauma, infection, neoplasm, inflammatory disease, and congenital abnormalities
- Red flags requiring urgent referral or additional imaging
- Interactive cases integrating imaging, differential diagnosis, and management
MRI of the Extremities
- Hour 6: Shoulder MRI
- Rotator-cuff, labral, biceps-tendon, and capsuloligamentous disorders
- Impingement, instability, arthritis, and occult osseous injury
- Clinical correlation and management recommendations
- Hour 7: Elbow, Wrist, and Hand MRI
- Tendon, ligament, cartilage, nerve, and occult fracture abnormalities
- Common overuse and traumatic injuries
- Appropriate imaging selection and referral considerations
- Hour 8: Hip and Pelvis MRI
- Labral disorders, femoroacetabular impingement, tendinopathy, and bursitis
- Stress injuries, osteonecrosis, arthritis, and occult fractures
- Differentiating musculoskeletal from serious underlying pathology
- Hour 9: Knee MRI
- Meniscal, ligamentous, chondral, tendon, and bone-marrow abnormalities
- Traumatic versus degenerative findings
- Integrating MRI findings with orthopedic examination and treatment planning
- Hour 10: Ankle and Foot MRI with Case Integration
- Tendon, ligament, osteochondral, plantar-fascial, and stress-related disorders
- Recognition of occult injury and clinically significant incidental findings
- Interactive cases emphasizing appropriateness, management modification, referral, and follow-up
Learning Objectives:
- Apply evidence-informed clinical appropriateness criteria when recommending MRI of the spine and extremities.
- Recognize common traumatic, degenerative, inflammatory, infectious, and neoplastic abnormalities on MRI.
- Correlate MRI findings with the patient’s history, physical examination, and clinical presentation.
- Identify red flags and imaging findings that require urgent referral, additional diagnostic evaluation, or modification of chiropractic care.
- Develop appropriate differential diagnoses and evidence-informed treatment, referral, and follow-up recommendations based on clinical and MRI findings.
Instructor: James Demetrious, DC, DABCO
Dr. James Demetrious is a nationally distinguished, board certified chiropractic orthopedist. He is a clinician, educator, author, and editor. Dr. Demetrious teaches post-graduate coursework on behalf of Northeast College of Health Sciences. He is an independent member of the NCMIC Speakers’ Bureau and teaches post-graduate coursework throughout the United States. He has published peer-reviewed journal papers related to advanced differential diagnosis. Dr. Demetrious cared for patients for 40 years.
Note: PostGradDC coursework may qualify for license-renewal credit in approved PACE states. Please confirm acceptance with your state licensing board before registering.
