When should you order Musculoskeletal MRI?

As the weather improves, physicians tend to see more sports-related trauma. MRI plays a crucial role in diagnosing injuries that appear normal on X-ray but are not healing with conservative therapy. It can be especially critical for athletes who should not resume a sport when they have an unresolved soft tissue injury, or to confirm a diagnosis prior to surgery. MRI frequently changes therapeutic management and can help patients avoid longer-term consequences such as osteoarthritis.    With its excellent spatial resolution and visualization of soft tissue, MRI offers the ability to diagnose tears in the labrum, ligaments and tendons, as well as tendonitis and tenosynovitis (inflammation of the tendon sheath). It can also visualize stress fractures, masses and congenital anomalies such as coalition.

While shoulder and knee injuries are the most frequent MRI musculoskeletal referrals, Papastavros’ also performs many exams of the foot/ankle, elbow, wrist/hand and hip.

Dr. Anthony Scola, a Papastavros’ radiologist with more than 15 years of experience interpreting musculoskeletal MRIs, notes, “MRI often shows that the problem is not what was suspected on clinical examination. For example, in the ankle, patients referred to rule out a tendon tear may instead have a ganglion or osteochondral injury, which may change their management.” Common foot and ankle problems that can benefit from MRI include ligament tears, tendon abnormalities and stress fractures.

MR Arthrography

MR arthrography (MRI that uses contrast injected directly into the joint) should be used:

A 1.5 Tesla MRI provides superior visualization of musculoskeletal tissue, and is most critical when small joints are involved. In general, physicians should consider MR referral whenever pain is unresolved with conservative management about six to eight weeks post trauma.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at:
New Castle County: 302-999-XRAY (9729)
Sussex County: 302-644-XRAY (9729)