MRI – An Optimal Tool for the Evaluation of Various Types of Musculoskeletal Conditions

With its ability to assess a wide range of anatomical structures, injuries, lesions and more, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as an effective diagnostic tool. In a leading healthcare center in New York, physicians rely on this modality for the non-invasive evaluation of sports injuries and many other disorders. By providing a better understanding of the nature of the injury, this scanning technique facilitates early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, thereby minimizing or avoiding the risks of disabilities that could otherwise occur.

Role of MRI in Assessing Musculoskeletal Issues

There are many reasons why MRI scan is recommended for sports related and other injuries:

• Multi-planar capabilities and excellent soft-tissue contrast
• Offers excellent contrast and high resolution
• Has the ability to visualize very small structures
• Reduces diagnostic errors
• Can assess a wide range of anatomy and pathology such as ligament related knee injuries to articular cartilage injuries
• Provides accurate assessment of inflammatory lesions and bone edema, so that effectiveness of therapy can be evaluated
• Whole-body MRI scan is used to screen for systemic muscle diseases and for tumor screening and staging within the musculoskeletal system
• Magnetic resonance images can indicate the presence of rheumatoid arthritis and reveal the joints involved.
• Can detect failure in soft tissues, such as meniscal, ligament and tendon tears, and in bone injuries
• Allows quantifying physical and physiological traits of soft tissue such as muscle for diagnosing neuromuscular disease

MRI also allows viewing of certain types of ligament, muscle and tendon injuries of certain structures that are deep or inconveniently positioned and do not afford proper access to other modalities such as ultrasound.

Comprehensive Patient Examination to Warrant Use of MRI

In a professional pain management center, MRI is used to evaluate musculoskeletal conditions only if the patient’s symptoms warrant it. In most cases, accurate diagnosis of neck, back, knee, or shoulder pain is made with history, physical examination, and x-ray. Typically, the pain associated with these conditions is effectively treated with nonsurgical modalities, including physical therapy.

The physicians would recommend magnetic resonance imaging when the clinical diagnosis is uncertain or when the diagnosis is clear, but the nature of the injury or the complications are unclear. MRI can identify pathology that may not be associated to the patient's symptoms such as intervertebral disc degeneration due to aging. This scanning modality may be also used to discover why a specific treatment has failed to produce the desired results or to plan a surgical intervention.

New York healthcare centers focused on providing a comfortable treatment experience use open MRI. This avoids the claustrophobia associated with a closed scanning unit that completely surrounds the patient.

As a leading multi-specialty healthcare center in Brooklyn, New York City, HealthQuest offers quality care and sophisticated services. Our unique approach to patient care ensures fast return to a pain-free lifestyle.