Mercy Hospital Ft Smith: LDRT for Osteoarthritis

Reported, but not yet independently confirmed. Call Radiation Oncology at 479-314-7545 to confirm LDRT for OA.

The closest other listed locations are Saint Mary's Regional Health System in Russellville, AR (about 68 miles away), North Arkansas Regional Medical Center / Claude Parrish Cancer Center in Harrison, AR (about 93 miles away), Oklahoma Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (OCSRI) in Tulsa, OK (about 98 miles away), and Freeman Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute in Joplin, MO (about 118 miles away). Distances are straight-line, not driving distance.

Usually, yes. Medicare and most major commercial insurance plans cover LDRT for osteoarthritis, though coverage details vary by plan. The radiation oncology office listed above can verify your specific benefits before you schedule.

It depends on your insurance plan. Many plans allow scheduling directly with a radiation oncology department once osteoarthritis is documented; others require a referral from your primary care doctor, orthopedist, or rheumatologist first. Call the office above to ask what they require.

A typical LDRT course uses a low total dose delivered over six treatments, substantially less than the dose used in cancer treatment. Long-term clinical experience hasn't identified a clear signal of increased radiation-related cancer risk after LDRT for osteoarthritis, though studies aren't large enough to rule out a very small risk entirely. The radiation oncologist above can walk through how the benefit and risk apply to your specific case.

A consultation, then a CT planning scan, then typically six treatment sessions given two to three times a week over two to three weeks. Each session takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes, mostly positioning; there's no needle, sedation, or recovery time.