MRI Wrist – Reliable diagnostics for pain, stiffness or suspected injury
The wrist is one of the body's most finely tuned joints – a central point for movement, grip and strain in both work and everyday life. Here, several small bones, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels and nerves meet in a narrow anatomical space. This is precisely why symptoms from the wrist can be both complex and difficult to interpret.
With an MRI examination of the wrist, you get a very detailed picture of both the skeleton and soft tissues. It is the most accurate method for diagnosing, for example, ligament injuries, fractures, tendonitis, cartilage changes or nerve compression
Magnetic resonance imaging of the wrist is especially recommended if you have had problems for a long time, have had an injury that has not healed, or if previous X-ray examinations have not shown sufficient results. The examination is painless, takes about 20–30 minutes and can be booked directly – without the need for a referral.When is an MRI of the wrist recommended?
Wrist pain can be caused by many different things, from overuse to trauma or rheumatic conditions. In many cases, a clinical examination or a standard X-ray is not enough to identify the real problem. Here MRI plays an important role.
You can consider a wrist MRI if you experience
- Persistent or recurring wrist pain – especially if it is aggravated by movement or strain.
- Sudden pain after a fall or twist – suspected ligament damage or fracture that is not visible on X-ray.
- Stiffness, swelling or discomfort at rest – signs of inflammation or fluid accumulation.
- Clicking sounds, locking or instability – may indicate damage to cartilage, ligaments or TFCC structures.
- Numbness, tingling or decreased sensation – e.g. in case of suspected carpal tunnel syndrome or other nerve entrapment.
MRI is particularly useful when other methods have not provided an answer or if you want to map the extent of an injury before treatment or surgery.
MRI is often used when the following conditions in the wrist are suspected
- TFCC injury (triangular fibrocartilage complex) – a common cause of ulnar wrist pain, especially after twisting or falling.
- Ligament ruptures and instability – e.g. injuries to the scapholunate or lunotriquetral ligaments, which affect the stability of the wrist.
- Tendonitis and tendon sheath inflammation (tenosynovitis) – e.g. in de Quervain's tendonitis, often with pain when moving the thumb or wrist.
- Osteoarthritis – MRI detects cartilage damage, synovial fluid and inflammation in the early stages, often before it is visible on X-ray.
- Scaphoid fracture – often suspected after a fall, but can be missed on plain X-ray.
- Ganglion (cyst) – MRI shows the cyst's contents and relationship to tendons and joints.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome – MRI is sometimes used to assess nerve involvement and rule out other causes of symptoms.
- Rheumatic disease or psoriatic arthritis – MRI can reveal joint inflammation, tendon damage and early erosions in the small joints of the wrist.
Book an MRI scan of the wrist
A MRI examination of the wrist is a precise and completely painless way to examine the structures in the wrist in depth. With the help of MRI, you and your doctor can get a clear answer to what is causing your problems – and thus start the right treatment more quickly.
The examination is particularly important in cases of pain that is difficult to assess, unclear findings from other imaging diagnostics or if you are facing possible surgery. MRI wrist takes about 20–30 minutes, is performed without radiation and provides high-resolution images.
Tip: Do you also have pain in your hand? Since the hand and wrist interact in movement, it is sometimes wise to examine both areas at the same time. Contact us for advice if this is relevant in your case.
