MRI of the wrist

Abstract

In the past, the diagnostic imaging algorithm for evaluating the painful wrist included initial plain radiographic examination followed by arthrography, tomography, bone scintigraphy, or computed tomography. In recent years, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been proven efficacious for diagnosing a number of maladies of the bones, ligaments, and soft tissues. MRI can be of aid in evaluation of carpal instability, disorders of the triangular fibrocartilage, ulnar impaction syndrome, distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability, fracture, avascular necrosis (AVN), tendinopathy, nerve entrapment syndromes, synovial abnormalities, and soft tissue masses.