MRI of the wrist can be ordered for various reasons, including recent trauma, joint instability, or a history of wrist disease. It can eliminate the need for more expensive arthroscopy and provide insight into the best approach to treatment. It may also be ordered as a follow-up to treatment or to evaluate the success of cancer treatment. Patients can request an approval letter in advance to check if it’s covered by insurance.
Medical professionals may order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the wrist to evaluate patients with recent trauma, signs of joint instability, or a history of wrist disease. The indications for an MRI of the wrist can be quite variable. Concerns about tendon and nerve damage and wrist injuries are among the most common reasons for ordering this type of medical imaging study. Patients with questions about whether the procedure will be covered by insurance can request an approval letter in advance. Insurance companies will ask why your doctor wants to order the test and can determine if it fits within their coverage criteria.
When your wrist shows signs of carpal buckling and injury, your doctor may order an imaging study to examine the soft tissue in your wrist. MRI of the wrist offers excellent resolution and a complete view. In some cases, it can eliminate the need for a more expensive arthroscopy to look at the risk of signs of ligament injuries and other problems. This can make it a very useful diagnostic tool.
Another reason to request an MRI of the wrist is if abnormalities show up in other imaging studies, such as X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scans. These may be ordered after a trauma, such as a suspected fracture. If they show signs of a problem that’s difficult to diagnose accurately, your doctor may request an MRI scan to get more details. This additional information may be useful for diagnostic purposes and may allow your doctor to develop a more effective and appropriate treatment plan.
This test may also be ordered if a physical exam reveals concerns about the presence of disease, including suspected wrist tumors. Avascular necrosis, a condition in which restricted blood supply kills bone or tissue, or severe arthritis can also be evaluated with the assistance of an MRI scan of the wrist. The scan can provide insight into what is happening inside the wrist and what might be the best approach to treatment given the situation. Patients with chronic and persistent wrist pain, inflammation, and other signs of disease may benefit from an MRI scan of the wrist to pinpoint the problem early.
An MRI of the wrist may be ordered as a follow-up to treatment. After surgery, for example, a wrist surgeon may want to look inside the wrist to determine if the patient is healing and to evaluate the success of treatment. Imaging may also be recommended during cancer treatment to see if the cancer is responding to chemotherapy and radiation. It may also be important to follow up with an MRI of the wrist to look for signs of the disease returning if there is any concern about this possibility.
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