Your knee is a complex joint that supports the weight of your body and allows for movements such as walking, running, and jumping. Injuries and diseases that affect your knee can result in significant pain and impaired mobility. To develop effective treatment plans for knee injuries and diseases, medical professionals often rely on knee MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) as a diagnostic tool. The good news is that you’re not at risk of radiation exposure with an MRI because it does not use ionizing radiation. According to w-radiology.com, no side effects have been reported by patients.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee is a diagnostic scan that uses a powerful magnetic field, radio waves, and detailed pictures generated by a computer. It can image structures within your knee joint. Most of the time, it is typically used to help find the cause of any pain, weakness, swelling, or bleeding in or around your knee joint.
When you go for a knee MRI, you’ll find it is a non-invasive imaging method that uses very strong magnetic fields in addition to radio waves to produce images with detailed information of the knee joint and surrounding tissues. These images will provide a clear view of your knee bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons, making it possible for healthcare providers to diagnose and evaluate knee conditions accurately.
One of the key benefits of getting an MRI of your knee is the ability to provide detailed information about the structure and function of the knee joint. This information is beneficial in developing an effective treatment plan. What healthcare providers discover allows them to determine the specific cause of knee pain and identify any underlying conditions that may or may not be contributing to the problem. For example, knee MRI can be used to diagnose knee injuries such as ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tears, meniscal tears, and osteoarthritis, as well as diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and osteochondritis dissecans.
While there are other imaging methods, an MRI of your knee may offer several advantages over other imaging methods, such as X-rays and CT scans. Unlike X-rays, MRI does not use ionizing radiation, which makes it a safer option if you are pregnant or have other health conditions. CT scans, on the other hand, are limited in their ability to show the soft tissues of the knee joint, such as the cartilage and ligaments. Knee MRI, on the other hand, provides detailed images of these structures, making it possible for healthcare providers to identify subtle changes that may be indicative of an underlying problem. The MRI can also show some blood vessels. This information will help your healthcare provider determine the best possible care for you.
In addition to diagnosing knee injuries and diseases, knee MRI also plays an important role in monitoring the progression of these conditions and assessing the effectiveness of treatment. For example, in the case of osteoarthritis, knee MRI can be used to track the disease’s progression and determine if joint damage is getting worse over time. If you’re suffering from osteoarthritis, knowing how it progresses can help your physician in developing an effective treatment plan. It will allow your healthcare provider to adjust the prescribed treatment plan as needed and make modifications to manage your symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
What you may find out from your diagnosis is that you’ll need surgery or another type of treatment. Likely, prior to your knee MRI, your healthcare provider has done a preliminary exam. He may have inspected your offending knee for bruising, pain, swelling, tenderness, or warmth. Most probably, he determined the range of motion you have with your knee joint in different directions. He may have pulled or pushed on your knee to check the integrity of your knee’s structures. Once he’s determined that he needs to take a closer look at your knee’s soft tissues, he’ll order a knee MRI. It will give him a 3D picture of your knee’s tendons, ligaments, muscles, and cartilage. This will provide him with the information he needs to suggest surgery.
Before you have surgery, you’ll want to make sure your surgeon knows key information regarding your health, such as if you have artificial joints, a pacemaker, or a stent. Once you get the go-ahead from your healthcare provider and surgery is necessary to treat your knee injury or disease, you’ll find a knee MRI will be used to identify the specific structures that the surgeon will need to repair or replace. As you can imagine, this information is crucial for your healthcare provider to plan your surgery. Plus, it helps to ensure that your surgery is performed as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Some types of surgery you may need include:
- Total Knee Replacement- a common surgery when the knee needs a whole joint replacement due to arthritis.
- Osteotomy- repositioning, reshaping, and cutting the bone to take some of the weight off your knee if it’s damaged.
- Arthroscopy- minimally invasive, the surgeon makes a small incision in the skin over the knee to insert small instruments and a light for removing or repairing part of your knee or inflammation.
After your surgery, the value of a knee MRI is not over yet. It is also valuable in post-operative care, as it allows healthcare providers to evaluate the results of your surgery and monitor your healing process. For example, an MRI can be used after your knee surgery to assess the strength and stability of the repaired or replaced structures. This is important in your continued care, as your physician will want to ensure that you are healing properly. If any issues arise during the healing process, for any reason, a knee MRI can provide the information necessary to make adjustments to the treatment plan and ensure that you are on the best path for a full recovery.
Your treatment plan after surgery is dependent on what type of surgery you’ve had. If you’ve had a total knee replacement, chances are you may be in the hospital for a few days after surgery. During that time, you’ll take medication prescribed to prevent blood clots and manage your pain. Your doctor may order a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine to keep your knee in motion to decrease swelling. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), recovery time may be between a few days to a few months before you can return to work and normal activities. Many people who have had knee replacement surgery return to their normal activities within a period of 3-6 weeks.
Usually, if you have an osteotomy, your medical team will manage your pain for a few days while in the hospital. While your bone heals, you may need to be on crutches for a few weeks with your knee in a brace or a cast.
If you’ve had an arthroscopic procedure, the recovery is dependent on your health and age and the actual procedure. You may be able to leave the hospital the same day or the day after. More than likely, you’ll need to take some pain medications and keep your leg elevated. It may be necessary for you to use crutches for a few days after surgery. As far as getting back to normal, that could happen in a few days or a few months.
In conclusion, you can see how a knee MRI plays a critical role in diagnosing knee joint issues, developing effective treatment plans for knee injuries and diseases, and checking on how well you’re healing after surgery. While the MRI itself is non-invasive in nature, it has the ability to provide detailed information about the knee joint and surrounding tissues which is helpful to your physician in determining next steps in your medical care. A knee MRI is also valuable for monitoring the progression of conditions that have already been discovered. Plus, it is used to assess the effectiveness of treatment, making it an essential diagnostic tool for healthcare providers. By utilizing knee MRI, healthcare providers can accurately diagnose knee conditions, develop effective treatment plans, and help their patients achieve the most optimal outcomes.
