MRI of the ankle: what shows how to do, how much is it?

No injuries are insured against injuries or injuries. In addition, there are separate parts of the body that are at greatest risk of developing various pathologies. One of these is the ankle joint. Dislocation, the appearance of swelling, tenderness and other unpleasant symptoms serve as a warning signal, indicating the need to seek medical help in the near future.

Before starting treatment, specialists will assign the patient to pass diagnostic procedures. A timely examination will help to identify the cause of the pathological condition of the ankle joint. MRI is an ultramodern and most informative research method that gives a detailed picture of internal structures and an assessment of the condition of muscles and soft tissues. Establishing an accurate diagnosis without tomography is difficult. In addition, the causes of the development of pathology can be a variety of factors.

Advantages of magnetic resonance imaging for joint pathology

MRI scan of the ankle has a considerable advantage over other types of research. Its advantages are the ability to obtain high-quality images, which allows specialists to detail the image with a certain accuracy. In the conclusions of a diagnostician, one can find an objective assessment of the condition of bones, the muscular apparatus, soft tissues, ligaments. During the procedure, specialists have the opportunity to visually examine the characteristics of blood flow in a specific clinical case.

With the most complex injuries and leg injuries, magnetic resonance imaging is the only type of research that guarantees an accurate result. In addition, the MRI of the ankle does not take much time: the scan lasts about 20-30 minutes, when using contrast - no more than an hour. The procedure for the patient passes without any side effects and is absolutely painless, therefore, upon its completion, the researcher can return to the habitual way of life. MRI is a non-invasive method that allows you to look inside the human body and get maximum information about its condition.

Following the provision of first aid in case of an ankle injury, the victim is sent for diagnosis. The surgeon or traumatologist appoints the study. Without a preliminary MRI, surgical treatment can not be performed, and therefore tomography is mandatory for patients who are shown to have surgical intervention.

Indications for MRI of the ankle

Other indications for the passage of the research procedure are the following conditions and diseases:

• Presence of neoplasms of unknown histology (with suspected benign or malignant tumor);
• Fractures and dislocations of the ankle joint;
• Sprains, ligaments and tendons;
• Pain syndrome of unexplained etiology in the lower limb;
• Puffiness and limited movement of the foot;
• Pinched nerve in the foot.

In addition, the most common cause for MRI is certain chronic diseases. For example, tomography is recommended for arthrosis or arthritis of the ankle, the symptoms and treatment of which require periodic monitoring by qualified doctors. The research allows you to identify problems even when other research procedures have shown dubious results, including those associated with circulatory disorders in the limb.

Thus, magnetic resonance imaging is a complex diagnostic method, to notice the development of the pathological process at its early stages and to start eliminating deviations as early as possible.

Contraindications and precautions

Despite the safety of the procedure, in some cases it is recommended to refrain from MRI. The method of examination of the body, implying the introduction of contrast medium, as a rule, has more contraindications than standard scanning. Especially cautious to the passage of the diagnostic procedure should be approached by patients who have a history of predisposition to allergic reactions. During pregnancy, as with breastfeeding, the administration of contrast medium is unacceptable, even in minimal doses. Gadolinium, which is part of its composition, adversely affects the work of the kidneys, so it is undesirable to resort to this diagnosis for persons suffering from kidney failure.

Due to the peculiarities of the MRI of the ankle joint and the principle of operation of the equipment, it is important to adhere to other limitations:

• The patient's weight should not exceed 120 kg.
• To conduct research for people suffering from claustrophobia or mental disorders, it is better in an open-type tomograph.
• Do not investigate patients who have metal structures in the body. Whether it's a heart valve, a pacemaker, an insulin pump, a prosthesis or just a piercing - any iron elements can distort the results of the diagnosis.
• When the couch is immersed in the chamber, the patient's body is tightly fixed with retaining belts to avoid involuntary movements.

Can I do MRI in childhood?

Very rarely, this method of research is applied to children, for which there are a number of reasons. In addition to harm from the contrast medium, there are other factors that prevent the procedure at such an early age. Observance of motor immobility, which is required for magnetic resonance imaging, is often an impossible task for children. If there is an acute need for a diagnosis, the child is examined under general anesthesia. That is why it is more expedient to carry out MRT only in those cases when the expected benefit from diagnostics exceeds the potential risk to the health of the baby.

Informative procedure: what will the MRI show?

If the ankle is swollen, but the cause of the pathology remains unknown, MRI is prescribed in 90 percent of cases. Due to the versatility of the study, doctors receive detailed information about the condition:

• Bones, since tomography allows you to visually examine the lower parts of the tibia, partly heel and ramming;
• Ligamentous apparatus - tendons and ligaments that are susceptible to tearing and stretching, even without heavy physical exertion, are often the cause of long-term pain;
• Muscle - to confirm or eliminate the inflammatory or infectious process of the soft tissues of the lower leg and foot;
• Cartilaginous tissue - with the timely detection of areas of increased wear, cracks and other defects in the patient has every chance of preventing arthritis of the ankle joint.

Symptoms and treatment of most pathologies detected during the diagnostic procedure require a serious approach and further observation by specialists. Use this method of examination of the limb and when suspected of cystic or oncological formations. In addition to the fact that the MRI of the ankle shows the presence of diseases, the procedure can be assigned to the patient in order to monitor the effectiveness of the current treatment, and also after its completion.

How to properly prepare for joint diagnosis?

If the patient was sent for the first time, there certainly is no need to worry him. Worrying about the upcoming procedure, many are riveted in search of answers about how to make an ankle joint MRI. In fact, no special training is required to examine this part of the body. To send an ankle scan, the patient can, by appointment, immediately after receiving the referral from the attending physician. If intravenous gadolinium is required for MRI with contrast, it is advisable to come to the session a little earlier, since additional time is required for the distribution of the substance throughout the body and on an empty stomach.

What is an ankle examination?

The procedure itself usually does not cause any difficulties. In brief, the progress of the study can be characterized as follows:

• Before entering the office, the patient takes off all metal objects, including jewelry, jewelry, disables the mobile phone.
• At an early stage of pregnancy, an ankle scan without a contrast agent is allowed, but before the procedure it is necessary to warn the doctor about the special situation of the patient.
• Then the patient will be asked to lie down on the couch of the scanner, the specialist will tightly fix the hands, feet, head with the help of belts and rollers. To reduce the audibility (the device works quite loudly), the patient may be given headphones.
• After this, the table is pushed into the chamber to such a distance that the patient's foot and shin falls directly under the trajectory of the torsion of the tomograph ring.

The results of the study and their decoding: what to do next?

The procedure does not affect the sensations of the subject, even if his ankle joint is swollen. During the course of the study, a doctor will be watching in the next room, with whom you can contact at any time and stop the scanning process under unforeseen circumstances. Upon completion of the examination, the doctor will give the patient the results of the procedure. Independently to look for in them the causes of pathologies and to assess the severity of an ankle joint damage is not necessary: the deciphering of the study indices will be taken by the attending physician.

What are the main diseases diagnosed by tomography?

Based on the diagnosis, and based on the patient's described symptoms, the specialist will be able to make an accurate diagnosis. With a fracture, a soft tissue injury or partial rupture of the ankle joints, the patient is expected to receive a comprehensive treatment consisting, as a rule, of a course of restorative medications and medical and physical exercises. If a neoplasm is found to determine its exact nature, the patient is sent to a biopsy to undergo histological examination of the tissue samples taken.

The most common pathologies that can identify the MRI of the ankle, we can consider the following:

• Arthrosis and rheumatic ailments (including infectious diseases, gout, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis);
• Damage to joint capsules, ligament ruptures and sprain;
• Hemorrhage in the joint;
• Rupture of syndesmosis (more common due to dislocation of ankle between small and large tibia);
• Abnormalities of embryonic development;
• Chondrosarcoma - the cancer of the joint bones;
• Synovium - malignant tumor of the synovium.

Which is better: MRI or CT? What is the difference between them?

When choosing the method of diagnosis in most cases, doctors prefer MRI. In some cases, it may be an alternative to computed tomography. It is difficult to determine flatly which of the types of ankle joint scanning is better and more effective, since the purpose of both procedures largely depends on the indications.

So, CT passes by the principle of radiographic examination, i.e. Radiographing part of the body with rays. Accordingly, this type of diagnosis is more effective in pathological changes in bone tissue. On a picture of a computer tomography of a bone will be represented by means of white shadows, and other cavities to be designated by dark color. Such marking is effective for identifying the site of a fracture, cyst, foreign body.

To see what condition the muscles of the ankle are in, it is preferable to stop for an MRI. Scanning the joint itself, the ligamentous apparatus and surrounding soft tissues will be more revealing than computed tomography.

How often can joints be scanned with MRI?

Despite stereotyped thinking and understanding of the dangers of magnetic resonance imaging for human health , this type of diagnostics is absolutely safe for the body. In the absence of contraindications and observance of all necessary precautions, one should not experience: the study can not negatively affect the course of the disease, worsen the general condition of the patient. Unlike radiography and CT, MRI can be done much more often. Meanwhile, the decision on the need for diagnosis and frequency of the procedure is taken exclusively by a specialist.

How much does an ankle aneurysm in Russia cost?

Another point that deserves attention is the cost of an ankle joint MRI. How much is the diagnosis in Russia unequivocally difficult to say, since the price of the procedure can have significant differences in different subjects of the Russian Federation. On average, the cost of tomography fluctuates around 4000-5000 rubles. If there is a policy of compulsory medical insurance, patients have the opportunity to undergo the procedure free of charge at the place of residence. Details should be specified by the attending physician or insurance company that issued the policy.