Wrist MRI

MRI of a single wrist evaluating carpal bones, TFCC, intrinsic ligaments, and tendons. Detects occult scaphoid fractures and ligament tears.

The wrist MRI provides high-resolution imaging of the carpal bones, distal radius and ulna, triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC), scapholunate and lunotriquetral ligaments, flexor and extensor tendons, and the carpal tunnel. The examination is particularly valuable for detecting pathology that is often invisible on plain radiographs. The protocol includes coronal, sagittal, and axial T1 and T2-weighted sequences with STIR. The radiologist evaluates for occult scaphoid fractures (the most common reason for wrist MRI in younger patients), TFCC tears, scapholunate ligament injury, tendon pathology including de Quervain's tenosynovitis, Kienboeck's disease (lunate avascular necrosis), and ganglion cysts. The carpal tunnel contents are assessed for median nerve compression. Common indications include persistent wrist pain after a fall with normal X-rays, ulnar-sided wrist pain suggesting TFCC injury, suspected scaphoid fracture in the setting of anatomical snuffbox tenderness, and chronic wrist instability. The radiation-free nature of MRI makes it ideal for the younger patient population that commonly presents with these injuries.