Magnetic resonance imaging of the hand, wrist, and forearm: utility in patients with pain and dysfunction as a result of trauma.

We reviewed the clinical data, results of imaging studies, and surgical-pathologic correlations in 41 consecutive patients with pain in the hand, wrist, or forearm to evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging in comparison with that of other imaging techniques. Of the 41 patients, 24 had a trauma-related lesion. In 18 of these 24 patients, the findings on magnetic resonance imaging were equivalent to (6 cases) or better than (12 cases) the clinical findings or the findings on other imaging studies for the detection of lesions of the hand, wrist, or forearm. Moreover, the results of magnetic resonance imaging affected the clinical management in 7 of the 24 cases (29%).