MR imaging of trauma: elbow and wrist

The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the setting of acute trauma is increasing due to many factors including availability and demand. The ability to evaluate for occult fractures in addition to concomitant soft tissue injuries has a significant impact on patient management and MRI is the ideal adjunct to plain radiography. Occult fractures in the forearm, particularly the radial head and scaphoid, are common and often lead to repeated examinations and delayed diagnosis, which can be avoided by the use of MRI early in patient investigation. Orthopedists are increasingly performing ligament repairs at the time of fracture fixation and therefore benefit from preoperative MRI to assess the extent of soft tissue injury.