MRI of the joints of the hands

Magnetic resonance imaging of extremities allows you to carefully diagnose the condition of bone and soft tissues, joints. MRI provides a three-dimensional image. This gives the doctor an opportunity to examine the smallest defects, and also helps to distinguish benign pathology from malignant, to predict the possible consequences of trauma, to detect inflammatory changes. MRI of the hand plays a significant role before and after the operation on the limbs: often from this type of study depends on the correctness of the prescribed treatment and the final outcome of the disease.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

Indications for the procedure

MRI of the hand is almost always assigned as an additional type of diagnosis - for example, to clarify some information obtained with the help of ultrasound, computed tomography or radiography.

Direct indications for MRI brushes are:

• period before the operation, after the operation on the hand;
• injuries, injuries in the hand;
• neuritis, infringement of nerve endings in the area of the wrist and wrist joint;
• diseases of ligaments and muscles in the area of the hand - in particular, phlegmon or wrist hygroma;
• articular pathologies - for example, arthritis (including gouty arthritis), arthrosis, osteomyelitis;
• tumor processes - benign and malignant;
• stiffness, tenderness of the joint with an unexplained etiology;
• suspicion of tunnel syndrome.

[6], [7], [8]

Preparation

• If an MRI brush with contrast is planned, the patient should preferably go to the procedure with an empty stomach - do not eat about 5 hours before the diagnosis.
• Directly before the MRI brush, you need to get rid of all metal and metallized accessories.
• In some cases, the doctor may ask the patient to change into a special disposable medical gown and hat.
• Before carrying out an MRI of the hand, the doctor should be warned about the presence of serious chronic pathologies, allergic reactions (especially if a contrast is supposed to be introduced).

[9], [10], [11]

Technique MRI of the hand

For the MRI of the hand, a conventional standard tomographic device consisting of a moving patient couch is used. The couch has built-in belts and rollers for fixing limbs and the patient's head. Such devices can prevent the occurrence of involuntary movements during the study, which can adversely affect the quality of the images.

When the couch is pushed into the apparatus chamber, the tomographic drum begins to move, which, due to the action of the magnet, produces a peculiar crash. The patient can not feel any uncomfortable sensations - the MRI procedure of the brush is harmless and safe.

After the scan is completed, the patient leaves the camera and waits for the results of the study in the corridor or in the next room.

The contrast component, which is administered to the patient for the MRI brush study, in most cases has a gadolinium basis. For the human body, gadolinium is absolutely not dangerous. He is injected into a vein, after making sure that this remedy does not cause the patient to have an allergy (by the way, this happens very rarely - in about 1% of cases).

The contrast component visually excretes the vascular system during the MRI procedure, which allows the doctor to clarify many details of the image.

MRI brushes with contrast are often prescribed for the diagnosis of tumor processes, as the network of capillaries grows particularly thickly in the area of tumor growth.

In the rest, the contrast MRI of the hand proceeds in the same way as a conventional, non-contrast study. After diagnosis, the patient returns to the normal rhythm of life. The injected substance is excreted by the body on its own, naturally, and does not require any additional medication.

Magnetic resonance examination of the joints of the hand is considered quite informative and accessible. Alternative techniques that are able to also qualitatively visualize the wrist joint, yet does not exist. MRI of the hand joints are most often prescribed:

• with osteoporosis;
• with gouty articular inflammation;
• with injuries of tendons, soft and bony tissues;
• at cysts, tumors;
• with inflammatory articular lesions.

MRI of the wrist and wrist joint also allows to establish the cause of pain and stiffness, helps diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome.

Brush joints are vulnerable to most systemic inflammations - for example, they are often amazed against rheumatic pathologies. X-ray studies will help evaluate bone damage and periarticular soft tissue, especially when calcifications are present. If there are no calcifications, then it is rather difficult to clearly visualize the picture of the altered structures using X-ray diffraction. It is in such cases that the MRI of the hand comes to the rescue. Magnetic resonance scanning will help to detect painful disorders in the early stages of the disease, when X-ray methods do not yet "see" the pathology. The fact is that the sensitivity of the MRI method is much higher than in other diagnostic methods.

MRI of the wrist with rheumatoid arthritis shows an equivalent picture. There are four diagnostic stages of rheumatoid arthritis. So, the earliest sign is the diffuse periarticular thickening and compactness of soft tissue. At the next stage the cystic enlightenment of bone tissues is determined against the background of the reduction of the joint cracks. This means that the inflammatory process progresses and goes on to a further stage in which erosive damage to the joint is detected. With further progression, erosions become plural, incomplete or complete ankylosis of the bone between the wrist or carpus metacarpal joint develops. All changes in the MRI of the hand determine at any stage in the development of pathology.

MRI of the tendon of the hand is prescribed for suspected tendinitis and tenosynovitis.

The inflammatory reaction affects the wrist tendons, or the styloid process of the ulna. During the diagnosis such changes are manifested by thickened and compacted ligaments and tendons in the area of their localization and attachment to the bone tissue. It is possible to detect calcifications in soft-tissue structures.

Contraindications to the procedure

• MRI of the hand should not be done during pregnancy. If contrast is used, then the period of breastfeeding falls under the ban.
• MRI of the hand does not do if the patient has any metal implants. For example, you can not use MRI in the presence of pacemakers, hearing aids, nerve and heart stimulants, vascular clips and insulin pumps, fixed prostheses of metal. Elements of titanium, ceramics and plastic under the ban do not fall.
• MRI of the hand can not be performed if the patient suffers hyperkinesis - uncontrolled motor activity
• Closed type of MRI brushes do not make people suffering from claustrophobia and mental illness, as well as obesity.
• The introduction of contrast in MRI brushes is not practiced by those who have a tendency to allergic reactions, there are problems with the liver and kidneys.

[12], [13], [14]

Complications after the procedure

MRI of the hand is a harmless kind of diagnosis, so the occurrence of any unpleasant consequences after the procedure is completely excluded. Currently, no complications after the MRI brush is officially recorded. The diagnostic procedure is absolutely safe.

[15], [16]

Care after the procedure

No additional care for the patient after an MRI brush is required. After diagnosis, the patient can return to the normal rhythm of life.

[17],

Reviews

Judging by the reviews, MRI brushes often help to determine the pathology at the earliest stage of development, when other diagnostic methods are not yet able to detect the problem. In this case, the tomograph provides information not only about the structure of the necessary joint or organ, but also about the peculiarities of metabolic processes in tissues.

The tomograph itself, in fact, resembles a large magnetic scanner, inside of which a human being is located. Under the influence of electromagnetic radiation, hydrogen atoms in the tissues of the body resonate, and signals from them are fixed by the scanner and converted into a three-dimensional image.

The procedure itself does not cause pain or other unpleasant sensations. The only condition is that during the session you need to maintain complete immobility: you can not only rotate, but also move the phalanges of your fingers. In the rest, the diagnosis of MRI of the hand is comfortable and without any negative moments for the patient.