Knee MRI Scan

An MRI is magnetic resonance imaging that shows images of a knee’s structure. They allow doctors to see knee joints, including bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscles, blood vessels and internal body structures. MRIs are more detailed than an X-ray, which shows just bones.

A knee MRI is an effective non-invasive treatment that uses magnets and radio waves to capture a high quality image of the area. The images produced also show a large number of different angles of the area, increasing the likelihood of capturing the affected issue.

Unlike X-rays, an MRI doesn’t use radiation. Instead, it harnesses radiowaves from data that already exist in the body, meaning it won’t cause chemical change or damage to tissue.

A knee MRI is performed inside a circular metal-shaped machine. Once the patient is inside, the radiologist will capture a number of images on a computer screen, each showing a thin slice of the body.

From here, the doctor or radiologist can study the images to determine the issue.

If a doctor suspects an issue with a ligament or tendon in the knee, they will almost always suggest an MRI to confirm their suspicions. However, knee MRIs can detect far more than just ligament and tendon injuries or tears.

MRIs are generally ordered by a doctor when there is pain or lack of mobility with the knee. Especially if an x-ray isn’t able to detect the problem. If you are experiencing any of the following issues, you may require a knee MRI.

• Knee injuries from an accident or fall
• Persistent knee pain that doesn’t improve over time
• A swollen or inflamed looking knee area
• Lack of mobility in the knee area
• Knee pain or discomfort when the knee is moved a particular way
• A popping sensation or feeling in the knee
• As a check-up after knee surgery
• Acute knee pain that’s developed suddenly

Below are a number of conditions that an MRI can help diagnose.

• Bone infections
• Tumors of the bone and surrounding soft tissues
• Arthritis
• Fluid build up in the knee
• Bone fractures or breaks
• Torn ligaments
• Sprains
• Infections
• Damaged or torn meniscus
• Problems with the knee joint
• ACL tears
• Extra fluid in the knee
• Collateral ligament injury
• Inflammation in the knee
• Degenerative joint disease

An MRI will need to be ordered from a referring physician. So, prior to your MRI appointment, you should have already spoken about your knee issue with your GP.

Eating or drinking before a knee MRI is usually okay unless your physician advises otherwise.

Once you arrive at your GP you won’t need to do anything too drastic to prepare. You’ll be required to move anything metal (like a necklace, bracelet, earrings, hair pins, piercings and hearing aids).

It’s important that you don’t wear hairspray or makeup to the appointment, as these contain metal particles, which can mess with the MRI images. If you have a metal object inside your body, like metal pins for a broken bone or implanted medical device, you should let the radiologist know.

During the scan

When you arrive at your knee MRI appointment, you will be given a hospital gown to change into. Some variations of MRI’s may require the patient to have dye to be administrated intravenously so that the issue can be identified in the scan. This will depend on your specific issue.

From here, a technician will position you on a table, so that your knee is positioned correctly for the scan. This will usually involve strapping it in. An electric machine will slide your body inside the MRI machine so that the bottom half of your body is inserted.

A knee MRI will generally take between 30 and 60 minutes, but in some cases, it can take up to two hours. Your technician will fit you with earplugs and a buzzer. When you press the buzzer you’ll be able to speak to the technician who is located in a separate room.

It’s very important for a patient to stay perfectly still during an MRI so that the detailed images don’t get blurred. Don’t be surprised or off-put by the loud sound during the scan, the machine is very noisy.

A patient shouldn’t feel anything during a scan. Sometimes people feel warm during a scan, but if this happens then the technician should be notified.

Once the knee MRI scan is completed, the patient will be slid out of the machine and be allowed to change back into their original clothes.

After the scan

Patients should generally feel normal after an MRI scan. The exception to this is patients who have been sedated due to claustrophobia reasons. In this case, these patients will require a recovery period and will need someone to drive them home.

Occasionally a patient made feel mild side effects, like slight nausea, or local pain. If a patient has a rash or other allergic symptoms appear after an MRI test, there’s a chance that they could be having an allergic reaction and a doctor should be notified immediately.

The waiting time for results will depend on the severity of your condition, as well as the clinic that you went to. Results usually take around 1-2 weeks, but can be returned quicker if the condition is suspected to require urgent medical attention.