|
The New Magnetom Jazz is a
patient-friendly orthopedic MR system from Siemens Medical Solutions
(MR patient positioning: shoulder, wrist, ankle and image montage: shoulder, ankle, elbow)
Magnetic
Resonance (MR) imaging can non-invasively diagnose a number of sports related injuries
without requiring surgery or arthroscopy. X-ray images of joints show good detail of bony
structures and can clearly show a fracture. However, x-ray images give insufficient
information about the soft tissue structures that hold joints together and allow the joint
to support complex function. MR can yield detailed images and information on a number of
bone and joint tissues like cartilage, tendon, ligament, bone marrow, bone cortex, muscle
and joint fluids. With the development of new MR systems and techniques over the past five
to ten years, MR has become an indispensable tool in diagnosing sports related injuries.
MR imaging provides an optimal means to acquire high contrast images of both the bone
structures and the soft tissue structures which together create a complex joint such as
the knee or shoulder. More and more, MR imaging is being used as the main diagnostic tool
in sports medicine while arthroscopy is being used as the guiding light for minimally
invasive joint surgery.
New dedicated orthopedic MR
systems
Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging
systems allow imaging of nearly every organ and structure in the human body. Whole body MR
systems can image the brain, spine, liver, joints, extremities (limbs), blood vessels,
heart and other organs in the body. However, these whole body systems are very expensive
to own and operate because of their size and cost to manufacture. In the past few years,
several medical systems manufacturers have developed new orthopedic MR systems that are
primarily dedicated to imaging joints. This latest generation of extremity MR systems are
very compact and combine orthopedic imaging performance with claustrophobia-free comfort
for patients in a system that is far less expensive to own and operate. Further, these
systems are small enough to be sited almost anywhere, even in the outpatient offices of
orthopedic practices. Over the next several years these dedicated extremity systems will
allow MR imaging to be conveniently accessible to more patients with orthopedic problems
and sports related injuries. The image strip at the top of the page shows one of the
newest orthopedic MR systems available.
Orthopedic Imaging with MR:
Orientation Flexibility and Tissue Detail
MR has incredible flexibility in its
ability to selectively image and highlight specific tissues like the knee's meniscus or
anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). MR has the unique
ability to directly acquire images in almost any orientation so that surgeons can get a
perfectly aligned view of a torn ACL. New three-dimensional MR (3D MR) techniques allow
doctors to acquire an entire volume of data (for instance the entire knee). The doctors
can then use the computer to go back and reconstruct images with the exact view or
orientation that they need to see the pathology. "Musculoskeletal Imaging" is a
specialized subset of MR imaging that is specifically geared towards imaging joints.
MR image of the knee showing posterior cruciate ligament (arrow)
Musculoskeletal (or orthopedic) MR
imaging is still a specialized field of MR and requires extensive experience and skill by
the radiologist and technologist performing the MR exam. High quality musculoskeletal MR
diagnosis also requires state-of-the-art MR systems, MR acquisition sequences and special
so called "surface coils" which allow more detailed images of shoulder, knees,
wrists and other complex joints. Even detailed MR images of the small joints and tendons
in the finger can now be acquired.
High resolution MR image of the finger
MR imaging is now used to
diagnose various joint injuries and conditions:
- arthritis: inflammation of the joint or
lining of the joint
- bursitis: inflammation of the bursa, the
membrane surrounding a joint. A common form of bursitis is sub-deltoid (shoulder) bursitis
which if left untreated can lead to "frozen shoulder"
- chondromalacia patellae, a painful
disorder of the knee in which the cartilage behind the kneecap is damaged or worn down
resulting in inflammation
- contusions (bruise) of the bone
- edema or swelling of the bone marrow in
athletes or people who have multiple impact or repetitive stress in their bones and joints
from such sports as basketball
- ligament tears: injury to the anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL) is extremely common
- meniscal tears of the knee, elbow and
TMJ, the meniscus (a crescent-shaped disk of cartilage) is held in place by joint
ligaments and reduces friction during joint movement
- orthopedic imaging of the spine: MR can
show early degeneration in discs before herniation and can also image nerve roots which
are inflamed or compressed.
- stress fracture: small hair line cracks
in the bone can be detected early with MR
- tendinitis: inflammation of the tendons,
for example the Achilles tendon
Updated: November 2, 2007
Return to Sports and
Orthopedic Injuries Main Menu |
