This one-of-a-kind, interdisciplinary book is designed to be a practical resource on orthopedic MR imaging that bridges the backgrounds of radiologists and orthopedic surgeons. Radiologists will benefit from a wealth of information on why surgeons order certain imaging studies. They will also learn orthopedic sports medicine terminology that will help them improve communication and tailor their reports to the specialty. Orthopedic surgeons will gain valuable insight on when to order an MRI, how MRI affects clinical decision making, and how to interpret imaging studies.
The text opens with a chapter that introduces important technical elements of MR imaging. Major sections advance the topic by focusing on clinical coverage for the knee and shoulder, which standout as the highest volume anatomical areas for MR imaging in sports medicine. The sections begin with broad discussions of the clinical conditions particular to orthopedic sports medicine, and include general algorithms/flow charts that outline differential diagnosis and potential imaging points. Subsequent chapters expand the discussion with more specific algorithms that show indications for MR imaging and they emphasize examples of important abnormalities and normal variants encountered in a typical practice. In addition, pertinent case studies depict key clinical and exam points, supplemented by correlative MR images and illustrations of anatomy, pathoanatomy, and arthroscopy. The algorithms and case studies not only guide orthopedists through the test selection process, but they also educate radiologists on the clinical concerns and objectives of orthopedic surgeons.
Shorter sections highlight other anatomical areas that are imaged in sports medicine, such as the spine, elbow, hip, wrist/hand, and ankle/foot. Additional chapters address the diagnostic accuracy of imaging methods and imaging pitfalls.
