Arthrography by MRI or CT scan

• Please inform us if you are pregnant
• Leave your valuables and jewellery at home if at all possible
• Please note that you are not allowed to drive after the examination, as you should not put any additional strain on your joint. You should therefore organise to be escorted home well in advance.

• Health insurance card

A radiology specialist will accompany you to your changing room. You will be asked to take off all your clothes except your socks and underwear and to put on a patient gown and pants. Metal objects such as jewellery, piercings, hairpins, watches, glasses, credit cards with magnetic strips, etc. must also be set aside.

Before the planned arthrography and subsequent magnetic resonance imaging or computer tomography examination, a contrast agent is injected into the joint to be examined in the X-ray fluoroscopy room. The injection is administered under local anaesthesia using a thin needle, which is inserted directly into the joint. The contrast agent is then injected into the joint. During and after the injection the joint may feel tight. Momentary discomfort such as light pain may arise, but this is harmless and does not require treatment.

After the arthrography, you will be accompanied to the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) or CT (Computer Tomography) room. This is where the actual diagnostic images are taken.

• Do not drive on the day of your examination, as you should not put any additional strain on your joint. Driving should also be avoided for insurance related considerations.
• Do not bathe or shower the evening prior to your examination
• In very rare cases, a joint infection/joint inflammation may develop. This manifests as redness, swelling or overheating around the puncture site. Please consult your doctor if this is the case.