Orthopedic MRI at Zwanger-Pesiri
Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology has been leading the way in orthopedic imaging for decades. Our fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists have worked and trained at top medical centers throughout the country and bring their extensive knowledge to ZP. Together with highly trained MRI technologists, we deliver unparalleled diagnostic imaging to our patients. Our cutting-edge imaging systems include 3T Wide Bore MRI, which is considered the gold standard for orthopedic imaging, providing superb detail and resolution with the fastest exam times.
What is Orthopedic MRI?
In orthopedics, MRI is an invaluable tool for examining bones, joints, and soft tissues such as cartilage, muscles, and tendons. It allows for a comprehensive analysis of injuries and structural abnormalities. Musculoskeletal MRI is also an important tool for surgical planning or assessing the results of orthopedic surgery, as well as for treatments of injuries and degenerative disorders.
Our orthopedic imaging team has extensive experience with conditions including:
- Fractures from sports or work-related injuries.
- Inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Cartilage, ligament and tendon tears.
- Joint deterioration (osteoarthritis).
- Spinal injuries, disk abnormalities and back pain.
- Infections and tumors involving tissues around the joints.
- ZP also performs MR Arthrograms, a specialized test used to visualize joints in great detail.
How is MRI used in Sports Medicine?
Our musculoskeletal radiologists specialize in sports medicine and MR imaging, with expertise in diagnosing athletic injuries such as ligament tears and fractures. ACL and MCL tears are among the most common injuries we see in soccer and football players.
Our radiologists collaborate closely with your physician to ensure an accurate diagnosis and provide essential information for effective injury management and treatment. Our goal is to help athletes return to play safely, when appropriate, while preventing further or repeat injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are receiving IV CONTRAST for your exam, have nothing to eat 1 hour prior to your exam time. You may drink clear liquids (example: water, ginger ale, apple juice).
Because the MRI system uses a very powerful magnet, there are many items that cannot be brought into the exam room. Although a private locker will be provided, it is best to leave certain items at home or with someone during your MRI exam, including:
- Cell phones, pagers, iPads, or any other electronic device
- Credit cards, driver’s license, and any other card with a magnetic strip
- Loose change
- Bobby pins, safety pins or any other item with metallic pieces
- Any loose metallic items on clothing or body
- Glasses, hearing aids and items such as TENS Units will not be able to go into the exam room, but can be worn until just before entering the MRI room.
- Wear comfortable loose-fitting clothes, such as a sweatsuit. Be sure there are no metal zippers, snaps or buckles. Do not wear earrings, hairpins, or jewelry. Do not apply eye shadow or mascara.
This exam may not be performed if you have a cardiac pacemaker, cerebral aneurysm clips or a metallic hearing implant. If you are a sheet metal worker or have ever had metal fragments in your eye(s), an orbit x-ray will be taken prior to your MRI exam.
After checking in, you will be escorted to a changing room. You will then meet the registered MRI technologist who will be performing your exam. The technologist will review the screening questionnaire and the procedure with you, answering any questions you may have.
When you are ready, you will be asked to lie down on the cushioned MRI table. Many MRI exams require the use of a coil, which is placed on or around the body part being scanned. The coil is a lightweight device that acts as an antenna to receive the radio frequency signal coming out of your body. That data is then transmitted to a computer, which will then generate the images. If it has been determined that your study requires the use of a contrast material (or dye), the technologist or nurse will perform the injection and administer the iodine-free contrast. Please let the staff know if you have any allergies.
The table will slowly move into position within the large doughnut-shaped magnet. We provide you with noise-canceling headphones and your choice of music, as you will hear a series of loud thumping noises as the scan is performed. With our modern MRI systems, most exams are over in 3 songs! We ask that you keep very still to help ensure that the images come out clear. Throughout the entire exam, you will be able to communicate with the technologist through an intercom.
An Orthopedic MRI exam can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.