Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

What You Need To Know About MRI

Learn how MRI works, who can use it, and what to expect during your scan.

Understanding Foot and Ankle MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the fastest and safest non-invasive method to get the clearest pictures of your foot and ankle condition. Since their invention in the late 1970’s, MRI has grown to become an indispensable part of practice for podiatric and orthopedic physicians.

MRI allows us the ability to see inside the body and visualize a structure, determine the extent of injury, and provide focused treatment. MRI’s can do this all without using X-rays. Instead, they use a magnetic field that absorbs or deflects the electric charge given off by the cells themselves and creates a picture from that deflected charge.

While MRI has universal applications, not everyone qualifies for its use. Those with brain aneurysm clips, metallic foreign bodies in the eye, recent surgery with orthopedic implants, pacemakers, or cochlear implants should not use MRI. Our technologists are trained to determine if MRI will be allowable for use.

If your doctor has recommended an MRI to evaluate a foot or ankle concern, our team will walk you through the screening process and schedule your scan at a location that works for you.

The Foot and Ankle Open MRI Experience

Foot and Ankle Specialists has had MRI’s on location in several of our facilities since January 2007. Our MRI’s are open machines, so you do not have to lie in a tube. You comfortably sit in an attached chair and simply place your leg in the machine while the MRI takes its pictures.

We use industry-leading Extremity OPEN MRI machines to offer advanced imaging technology to our patients. Aside from being open machines, ours are much quieter than traditional MRI’s, making the experience more comfortable for patients who might feel anxious about closed scanners or loud noise.

The MRI process typically takes around one hour. All of our MRI’s are read by a board-certified musculoskeletal MRI radiologist who provides a report within 24 hours. An appointment will then be made with your doctor to review the MRI and discuss treatment based on the findings.

Let the doctors at Foot and Ankle Specialists, using our open MRI, help you find and fix your concerns.