Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive procedure that provides detailed images of your soft tissues, including ligaments and cartilage. The team at San Juan Health Partners Orthopedics offer in-office MRIs at their state-of-the-art facility.
Advanced Patient Comfort: Our new MRI machine has the widest patient table in the industry and allows you to listen to music during the procedure. For comprehensive orthopedic care with the convenience of an on-site MRI, call the office.
MRI Q&A
What is an MRI?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an advanced technology that uses a strong magnetic field and pulses of radiofrequency energy to generate 3D anatomical images. MRI allows your orthopedic surgeon to visually examine tissues that don’t show up on an X-ray, such as muscles and nerves.
San Juan Health Partners Orthopedics has a brand-new, state-of-the-art MRI facility that includes industry-leading equipment like the Hitachi Echelon Oval 1.5T. This MRI machine boasts the widest bore (the opening for the patient) and patient table available, maximizing comfort and reducing feelings of claustrophobia.
Why would I need an MRI?
The team at San Juan Health Partners Orthopedics uses MRI to detect and diagnose a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including:
- Ligament tears
- Meniscus tears
- Herniated discs
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Cartilage damage, including arthritis
Depending on your condition, you may need an X-ray as well as an MRI. X-rays add significant value to an MRI exam, which is why the practice offers both services in-house.
What can you scan with an MRI?
An MRI scan can diagnose pain and injuries in many areas of your body. The team at San Juan Health Partners Orthopedics takes MRI scans of the following parts of your body:
- Foot and ankle
- Knees
- Hips
- Shoulders
- Spine
- Arms and elbows
- Hands and wrists
Other types of MRI scans may provide images of different organs, including your brain, heart, and blood vessels. The team uses MRI to identify musculoskeletal problems like sports injuries and arthritis.
What should I expect from an MRI?
First, your provider at San Juan Health Partners Orthopedics reviews your medical history and performs a physical exam to make sure an MRI scan is right for you. It’s important to tell your provider about any implants that may contain metal, such as a pacemaker or joint replacement prosthesis.
With the state-of-the-art Hitachi Echelon Oval, MRI scans usually take only 30 minutes. The advanced technology enables your provider to diagnose conditions much faster than with older MRIs.
The exam is pain-free and doesn’t require sedation. Your provider positions you comfortably on the extra-wide patient table. They slide the table into the bore so that the magnet focuses on the area being scanned. The Echelon Oval is also quieter than other MRIs, which means you can listen to music while the scan occurs.
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