Magnetic resonance imaging (knee): What can be seen?
With an MRI (knee), the doctor wants to assess the following parts of the knee joint in particular:
- menisci
- Ligaments (e.g. anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, medial and lateral ligaments)
- Cartilage of the knee joint
- Tendons and muscles
- Bones (kneecap, femur, tibia and fibula)
The examination enables him to diagnose torn ligaments and meniscus, signs of wear and tear and cartilage damage, for example. Tendon injuries, sometimes with tearing of the bony attachment point, are also detected in the MRI.
MRI (knee): Duration and procedure
The MRI (knee) does not differ significantly from other MRI examinations. The only difference is that the patient is not placed in the “tube” with the whole body, but with the feet first and only up to the hip. The patient’s head and upper body remain outside the device. For this reason, MRI (knee) is generally not a problem for patients with claustrophobia. It is usually completed after about half an hour.
