Wrist MRI Scan: Information and Get a Scan

Our everyday lives are impacted by technology. More of our time is being spent online, and our hands are typing away on a laptop or holding a smartphone.

Over time, there has been a correlation drawn between the increase in handheld technology use and wrist injuries. Research has shown that 7% to 16% of people in the UK will suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

The wrist is a complicated joint, home to many small bones, muscles, tendons, nerves and ligaments.

Therefore, when you experience wrist pain, it is very difficult to determine the cause through physical exam or X-rays alone. A wrist MRI scan can help doctors pinpoint the cause and severity of wrist damage. It’s important to find wrist damage early to begin the recovery process.

Wrist pain can affect individuals across all age demographics, particularly those who perform strenuous repetitive tasks. However, it is more prevalent as we get older, beginning in middle age.

If you have been experiencing wrist pain and have thought about getting a wrist MRI scan, continue to find out what you can expect from the procedure.

What Makes up the Wrist Joint?

The wrist joint is a type of ellipsoidal joint, meaning it can move along two planes, connecting the hand to the forearm. Although it functions as one visibly moving joint, inside the wrist is several different joints and bones. Which includes:

• End Portions of the Radius and Ulna Bones
• 8 Carpal Bones
• Portions of 5 Metacarpal Bones

The radiocarpal joint, or wrist joint, is also home to:

• Ligaments
• Nerves
• Cartlidge
• Muscles
• Additional Fibrous Tissues

Together this myriad of ligaments, muscles, and tissues allow the wrist to perform flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction. With many complex structures, it can be challenging to diagnose the cause of pain without the assistance of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan.

What is a Wrist MRI Scan?

A wrist MRI is a diagnostic imaging scan of the wrist joint that produces high-resolution images of the wrist bones and soft tissues. This allows doctors to establish the cause of wrist pain, swelling, and stiffness.

What a Wrist MRI Scan Can Diagnose

The wrist is a complex joint that can fall prey to broken bones and soft tissue injuries. A wrist MRI is a non-invasive procedure used to diagnose a range of medical conditions: 

TFCC Tear

A triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tear affects the triangular-shaped cartilage in the wrist joint and can be caused by wear and tear or by falling onto an outstretched hand. 

Ligament Injuries

Commonly referred to as a sprained wrist, the ligaments in the wrist can become stretched or damaged through injury or accident, leading to pain, swelling and a limited range of movement. 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve in the wrist, causing it to become compressed, leading to pain, tingling and numbness. 

Tendonitis

Tendonitis causes pain, stiffness and swelling in the wrist and is common in those who use their wrists for repetitive motions, such as through sports or computer use. 

Tendon Injuries

Tendon injuries to the wrist area are common in people who play sports that involve repetitive wrist movements, such as tennis and netball, or who use their wrists to bear their weight, such as gymnasts. The flexor tendons, that run from the forearm to the fingers, are most commonly affected in the wrist. 

Ganglion Cyst

Ganglion cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form under the skin near joints or tendons, and are particularly common in the wrist area. While harmless, they can cause pain and discomfort. 

Wrist Fractures

Wrist fractures and other traumatic injuries to the wrist area can be caused by trips and falls, particularly when someone breaks their fall by extending their arms and falls onto their outstretched hand. Most commonly, the small scaphoid bone in the wrist is affected. 

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the joints, including the wrist joint, causing pain and swelling. 

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear of the cartilage and can affect any joint, including the wrist, leading to pain, swelling and a limited range of motion. 

Synovitis

Synovitis describes inflammation of the lining of the joints called the synovial layer, and can affect the wrist joint, causing pain and swelling. 

Tenosynovitis

Tenosynovitis affects the fluid-filled sheath around the tendon, causing inflammation and swelling. It’s most common in the hands and wrists. 

Kienböck’s Disease

Kienböck’s disease affects a small wrist bone called the lunate bone, crucial for stability and movement. The disease causes the bone to lose blood supply and eventually die, causing loss of grip strength and limited range of motion. 

How is an MRI of the Wrist Done?

An MRI scan uses a magnetic field and radio waves to capture images of your wrist joint from multiple angles. The MRI machine takes images, referred to as slices, as it moves through the wrist joint across one angle.

Each type of tissue, from dense bones to lighter soft tissues and blood vessels, emits a different type of energy. The MRI scanner picks up these energy frequencies and turns them into high-resolution images. Doctors interpret these images to diagnose bone fractures, soft tissue injuries, inflammation, tumours, and other abnormalities.

Once an issue has been determined, your physician can prescribe a treatment plan to begin your recovery and reduce your pain symptoms.

Equipment Used

An MRI scanner is a large, round, doughnut-shaped machine with a table that moves in and out. It’s attached to computers that create high-resolution images. 

Risks

MRI scans are generally considered safe. However, if you have claustrophobia, you may struggle in the closed environment of an MRI scanner. Some clinics have smaller extremity scanners that only scan the hand and wrist. If your clinic doesn’t offer these, or you think you’ll struggle, speak to your doctor about a mild sedative that will help. 

Sometimes, a contrast agent is injected into a vein in your arm before having an MRI scan. This helps to better highlight blood vessels and soft tissues. Some people, especially those with kidney disease, can develop an allergic reaction to the contrast agent dye. Symptoms of an allergy include feeling flushed, breathless, sweaty or nauseous. If you begin to feel at all unwell, speak to your radiographer immediately. 

Unlike X-rays and CT scans that use ionising radiation, there’s no risk of radiation exposure from an MRI scan.

How to Prepare for a Wrist MRI Scan

A wrist MRI doesn’t take much preparation - you can eat and drink as normal beforehand, and continue to take any medications unless otherwise instructed by your referring doctor. 

The Procedure Explained: What to Expect

Procedures vary between clinics, but in general, a wrist MRI takes place in the following steps:

1. Medical Screening - Your radiographer will take your medical history and allow you to ask any questions before your scan. 
2. Change Into a Gown - You’ll be asked to change into a hospital gown if you’re wearing clothing, such as jeans, that contain any metal fastenings. 
3. Remove Metal Items - Metal objects cannot be taken into an MRI scanner as they may react to the strong magnets used. As such, all jewellery, watches, hair clips and removable devices such as hearing aids must be removed. Speak to your radiographer if you have any metal implants, stents, pumps or valves. 
4. Lie on the MRI Table - You’ll be helped onto the MRI table by your radiographer. During the scan, you’ll be required to remain completely still. 
5. Wrist Positioned and Secured - Your wrist will be secured into a padded device that keeps the wrist straight. It also contains a special coil that helps the MRI scanner take clear, detailed images. 
6. Headphones or Earplugs Given - MRI scanners make a loud, knocking sound when they’re switched on, which some people find disturbing. Therefore, you’ll be given headphones or earplugs to help muffle the sound. 
7. Enter the MRI Machine - Once in position, the table will slowly move into the scanning machine. Depending on your clinic and your circumstances, you’ll either enter the machine feet first or head first, with your arm either out straight or above your head in the “superman” position. 
8. Scanning Takes Place - Your radiographer will control the MRI machine remotely from another room, but you’ll still be able to communicate with them via an intercom. A wrist MRI takes between 10 and 30 minutes, or up to an hour if you’re having a contrast dye MRI scan. 

How Long Does a Wrist MRI Take?

The average wrist MRI takes approximately 10–30 minutes. In some circumstances, your radiologist may need to use a contrast material–usually iodine–to better highlight specific wrist structures. If this is the case, the scan may take 30–45 minutes.

It is important to stay very still when the scan is taking place, as any sudden movements will cause blurred images. In the case the images were not clear, the scan will need to be performed again.

What Happens After a Wrist MRI Scan?

Once your scan is complete, you’ll be able to get up from the table and get dressed. If you’ve had a contrast agent, you’ll be asked to stay in the clinic for half an hour to ensure you don’t develop an allergic reaction. You can return home the same day as the MRI scan and return to your normal duties as far as your painful wrist will allow. 

Getting the Results

Your radiographer will share your wrist MRI results with a radiologist, who will write a report and will discuss the findings with your referring clinician. They will then get in touch to discuss them with you. This may take a few days. 

How Much Does a Wrist MRI Cost?

The average cost of an MRI scan in the UK is £363. However, at our MRI centre, the average starts as low as £289. The benefit of choosing a private MRI scan is reduced wait times.

The current NHS wait time for a non-emergency MRI scan is up to 18 weeks. At our centre, you can get an appointment in as little as 5 working days. When dealing with so many complex structures in your wrist, it is important to find the cause of pain quickly. This decreases the possibility of the issue getting worse, and increases the chance of making a full recovery.

The Bottom Line

Wrist pain is frustrating. If you are looking to identify the cause of your pain, consider getting an MRI wrist scan. An early diagnosis is key to making a quick recovery. If you have any additional questions, feel free to Contact Us and one of our team members will be happy to answer any of your concerns.

Get a Wrist MRI Scan

If you have pain or a limited range of motion in your wrist, or you’ve had an accident that’s affecting the wrist area, don’t delay getting a diagnosis of what’s causing your discomfort. Book a private MRI scan of your wrist with us today and jump the queues. 

FAQs

Does Your Whole Body Go in for a Wrist MRI?

It will depend on your clinic, but generally, only your affected arm and your upper body will enter the MRI scanner for a wrist MRI. If your clinic is using an extremity scanner, only your arm will need to be placed into the scanning machine. 

What Can a Wrist MRI Show?

An MRI of the wrist will show wrist fractures, medical conditions affecting the wrist bones, soft tissue injuries and other conditions affecting the wrist joint. 

How to Read a Wrist MRI?

Your radiologist and referring doctor will be able to read your MRI results for you and diagnose what’s causing your wrist pain.

References

1. https://www.ramsayhealth.co.uk/about/latest-news/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-rises
2. https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-019-2902-8
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25872521/
4. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337267600_Wrist_pain_a_systematic_review_of_prevalence_and_risk_factors-_what_is_the_role_of_occupation_and_activity
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9218298/
6. https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/the-wrist-joint
7. https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/ellipsoidal-joint
8. https://www.elliothospital.org/website/diagnostic-imaging-mri-hand.php
9. https://oryon.co.uk/imaging/scans/mri/