Why mri for knee injury

In some cases, metal artifact reduction imaging is performed in patients who have metallic surgical implants at the knee and require MR imaging. Present data show no convincing evidence that non contrast MRI harms the fetus of a pregnant woman. However, if the need for the exam is not time sensitive your doctor may delay the exam until after delivery.

MRI gadolinium contrast agents are generally avoided during pregnancy except in very specific circumstances. Your doctor will discuss the benefits and risks of any MRI procedure with you. Doctors may perform MRI after the first trimester to assess the fetus for findings that are not fully evaluated by ultrasound. An MRI exam typically costs more and may take more time than other imaging exams.

Talk to your insurance provider if you have concerns about the cost of MRI. Please type your comment or suggestion into the text box below. Note: we are unable to answer specific questions or offer individual medical advice or opinions. Some imaging tests and treatments have special pediatric considerations. The teddy bear denotes child-specific content. Please contact your physician with specific medical questions or for a referral to a radiologist or other physician.

To locate a medical imaging or radiation oncology provider in your community, you can search the ACR-accredited facilities database. This website does not provide cost information. The costs for specific medical imaging tests, treatments and procedures may vary by geographic region. Web page review process: This Web page is reviewed regularly by a physician with expertise in the medical area presented and is further reviewed by committees from the Radiological Society of North America RSNA and the American College of Radiology ACR , comprising physicians with expertise in several radiologic areas.

Outside links: For the convenience of our users, RadiologyInfo. Toggle navigation. What is a Knee MRI? What are some common uses of the procedure? How should I prepare? What does the equipment look like? How does the procedure work? How is the procedure performed? What will I experience during and after the procedure? Who interprets the results and how do I get them? What are the benefits vs.

What are the limitations of a knee MRI? Detailed MR images allow doctors to examine the body and detect disease. The examination is typically performed to diagnose or evaluate: knee pain, weakness, swelling or bleeding in the tissues in and around the joint damaged cartilage, meniscus, ligaments or tendons sports-related knee injuries, such as sprains and torn ligaments, cartilage, or tendons bone fractures that may not be visible on x-rays and other imaging tests damage from arthritis build-up of fluid in the knee joint infections such as osteomyelitis tumors primary tumors and metastases involving bones and joints dead bone a feeling that your knee is giving away at the joint decreased motion of the knee joint knee cap injury or pain complications related to implanted surgical devices pain or trauma following knee surgery Your doctor may also order an MRI to determine if knee arthroscopy or another surgical procedure is needed, and to monitor your progress after knee surgery.

MRI exams may be done on an outpatient basis. The entire exam is usually completed in 45 minutes. Benefits MRI is a noninvasive imaging technique that does not involve exposure to radiation. MRI has proven valuable in diagnosing a broad range of conditions, including tendon, ligament, muscle, cartilage and bone abnormalities that are not as visible on x-rays or CT scans.

MRI can help determine which patients with knee injuries require surgery. MRI may help diagnose a bone fracture when x-rays and other tests are inconclusive.

MRI can detect abnormalities that might be obscured by bone with other imaging methods. MRI provides a noninvasive alternative to x-ray, angiography and CT for diagnosing problems of the blood vessels. Risks The MRI exam poses almost no risk to the average patient when appropriate safety guidelines are followed.

If sedation is used, there is a risk of using too much. However, your vital signs will be monitored to minimize this risk. The strong magnetic field is not harmful to you. However, it may cause implanted medical devices to malfunction or distort the images. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a recognized complication related to injection of gadolinium contrast. It is exceptionally rare with the use of newer gadolinium contrast agents. It usually occurs in patients with serious kidney disease.

Your doctor will carefully assess your kidney function before considering a contrast injection. There is a very slight risk of an allergic reaction if your exam uses contrast material. Such reactions are usually mild and controlled by medication. If you have an allergic reaction, a doctor will be available for immediate assistance. Although there are no known health effects, evidence has shown that very small amounts of gadolinium can remain in the body, particularly the brain, after multiple MRI exams.

This is most likely to occur in patients receiving multiple MRI exams over their lifetime for monitoring chronic or high-risk health conditions. The contrast agent is mostly eliminated from the body through the kidneys. If you are a patient in this category, consult with your doctor about the possibility of gadolinium retention, as this effect varies from patient to patient. Since most issues get better on their own without medical treatment then if you have no red flags and are within the first 3 weeks after injury then an MRI can wait.

If your knee pain is not getting better on its own after three weeks you should see a doctor. She will perform a physical examination, x-ray, and blood tests for infection. The results of these tests will decide whether you need an MRI. If you are over 55, your knee x-ray shows signs of arthritis, and the physical exam is not suspicious for a torn meniscus or ACL, then you have arthritis and should start rehabilitation; in this case an MRI is not needed.

On the other hand, if your arthritis is not better after three weeks of rehabilitation such as physical therapy then you should try a hyaluronic acid synvisc, euflexxa, hyalgan, monovisc, orthovisc, supartz injection.

These injections help lubricate the synovial fluid of the knee, and often relieve pain for weeks to months. If you are still severely impaired from advanced arthritis of the knee despite hyaluronic acid injection, then it is time to see an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in partial knee replacement surgery or total knee replacement surgery for muscle sparing robotic assisted partial or total knee replacement.

Muscle sparing robotic assisted partial or total knee replacement surgery takes around 1 hour, is done as an outpatient to avoid the risks of hospitalization. You are up and walking on your own 90 minutes about 1 and a half hours after partial or total knee replacement surgery, you can walk without a walker in days, back to light duty work in weeks, and you are fully recovered in weeks about 1 and a half months.

On the other hand, if the x-ray does not show arthritis, you are under 55, your knee pain started with a specific injury playing sports, or your physical exam suggests a torn ACL or meniscus, then you need an MRI right away. If the MRI shows a complete ACL tear or some types of meniscus injuries, then arthroscopic ACL reconstruction , Meniscectomy or meniscal repair surgery by an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in Sports Medicine would be proper.

Arthroscopic, ACL Reconstruction, Meniscectomy or Meniscal Repair surgery are done on an outpatient basis to avoid the risks of hospitalization. The surgery takes hours, and you are fully recovered from surgery after a week. Depending on the type of surgery you will require an extensive course of rehabilitation which may last months. Need help now? Try these 3 self-massage techniques. Many health conditions can cause swollen fingers.

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Learning how to use them properly and safely…. Deltoid stretches can help improve the flexibility and range of motion in your shoulder muscles. Anterior deltoid stretches and posterior deltoid…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Knee MRI Scan. Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M. Causes for a knee MRI. Risks of a knee MRI. How to prepare for a knee MRI. How a knee MRI is performed. After a knee MRI. While some people find MRIs distressing, either because they are claustrophobic or jarringly noisy, they are invaluable tools which offer a less invasive means of diagnosis.

The meniscus is a wedge of cartilage within the knee that helps cushion, stabilize, and transmit weight across the knee joint. If ever the meniscus is torn, an MRI may reveal that its typical triangular shape will either have shifted or changed.

In some cases, the torn portion will have migrated to the center of the knee joint commonly referred to as a " bucket handle tear ". Certain abnormalities will be listed on an MRI report as an "intrasubstance signal. It could be the result of normal aging or an increased vascularity commonly seen in children and young adults.

Further investigation would be needed to reach a definitive diagnosis. Ligaments of the knee are the short bands of flexible, fibrous tissue that holds the knee joint together and moderate knee movement. There are four types of ligament we look at when conducting an investigation:.

The ACL is where the majority of ligament injuries occur. Isolated tears are relatively uncommon. If one occurs, it will typically be seen as a distinct disruption of the ligament fibers. Meanwhile, MCL and LCL injuries tend to be associated with swelling around the knee commonly referred to as "water on the knee". Grade III injuries typically require surgery.