MRI’s Essential for Injury Evaluation

MRI’s have helped doctors do their jobs for four decades. And patients are much better off for it. Read Frequently Asked Questions about MRI’s.

What’s an MRI?
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is used to view internal body structures for disease or injuries that otherwise couldn’t be detected. An MRI is the best tool for an orthopedic physician to diagnose damage or disease to a person’s joints.

How does an MRI differ from a CT scan?
An MRI and CT scan (or CAT scan) can be used to detect the same injuries and diseases. However, an MRI is preferred while scanning for orthopedic-related injuries, such as joint degeneration, fractures, and tendon and ligament damage. CT scans are commonly used for evaluating tumors.

How does an MRI work?
An MRI is a large, noninvasive device that uses magnetic properties to create nondestructive, three-dimensional images of the body’s soft tissues, including in the head, spine, and joints.

Patients remove all metal objects from their body, lie on a table, and then slide into a scanner. A typical exam lasts 15 to 30 minutes.

Most Summit Orthopedics’ locations offer MRI testing. At its clinics in St. Paul, Woodbury, and Eagan, an Open MRI provides more space around the body for those who are obese or who are anxious about the enclosed space experienced with traditional MRI scans.

Is an MRI safe?
Yes. An MRI involves non-ionizing radio frequency signals to acquire its images. A CT scan uses X-ray imaging. X-rays expose patients to radiation that can be harmful, though harm is rare.

Read more about what happens during an MRI and preparing for an MRI exam.

Contact Summit Orthopedics at (888) 896-9494 to schedule an MRI exam.