The knee is a joint that allows leg movement, such as walking, running and bending. Because the knee is essential to mobility, it endures a tremendous amount of pressure on a daily basis. This constant pressure can take its toll on the knee joint and cause problems that can result in injury, inflammation or pain. The best way to see the causes of these problems is with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). There are MRI procedures that can diagnose the problems affecting the knee joint.
Conventional Knee MRI
A knee MRI is the one of the first MRI scans that is performed if there is chronic knee pain or injury. It is a painless scan that visualizes the knee in various planes, such as axial (top-to-bottom), coronal (front-to-back) and sagittal (side-to-side). These various planes provide the radiologist with a comprehensive look at the knee joint and surrounding tissues in order to make a diagnosis. A conventional knee MRI is generally performed while lying down but can also be scanned while the patient is standing, which shows the knee in a weight-bearing position.
Knee MRI-Arthrography
For a more detailed scan of the knee, a minimally invasive procedure called arthrography can be ordered by a physician. If a meniscal or ligamental tear or a lesion of the knee cartilage is suspected, this would be the best procedure, according to L. Mathieu in the article, "Knee MR-Arthrography in Assessment of Meniscal and Chondral Lesions." Arthrography is performed by injecting the knee joint with an MRI contrast agent called gadolinium. After the knee is injected with gadolinium, it is scanned in MRI. The findings from the MRI arthrography can greatly help the physician recommend treatment for the patient.
Kinematic Knee MRI
Kinematic MRI is a relatively new technique that demonstrates how the bone and the soft tissues of a joint interact during motion. In the case of a kinematic knee MRI, it uses a positioning device to demonstrate how the patellofemoral joint of the knee reacts when moving against resistance as stated in the article, "Functional Evaluation of Joints Using Kinematic MRI." A kinematic knee MRI is used to specifically diagnose any abnormalities with the patellar (knee cap) alignment. Because it is rarely identified on a conventional knee MRI and can be easily misdiagnosed, this MRI technique is best used for great visualization of patellar alignment of the knee joint.
Member Comments