Your doctor may refer you for a knee MRI scan to investigate knee pain, swelling, instability, or reduced movement. It is also used to assess knee injuries, monitor recovery after knee surgery, or identify inflammation and other medical conditions causing ongoing pain. MRI provides detailed images of the soft tissue structures and bones of the knee, including:
- Cruciate ligaments – anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
- Collateral ligaments – medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL)
- Menisci – medial meniscus and lateral meniscus (including patterns such as a bucket handle tear)
- Articular cartilage, bone marrow, joint fluid, joint capsule and surrounding tendons
- MRI scans may also be recommended following a surgical procedure or when other imaging tests have not provided enough information.
A knee MRI can help identify meniscal tears, ligament injuries (such as an ACL tear), cartilage damage, bone abnormalities (including occult bone fractures or marrow oedema) and other causes of internal derangement. Unlike X‑ray or computed tomography (CT), MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves and does not use ionising radiation.
Musculoskeletal MRI FAQs
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Most knee MRI scans require little or no preparation. Information regarding any preparation will be provided to you at the time of booking.
Please bring any previous scans or x-rays related to your knee MRI scan with you to your appointment. If you had these scans with us, we will already have your images stored.
For the MRI, you will be required to change into a gown and remove jewellery, so we recommend wearing clothes that are easy to remove.
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- When you arrive at one of Queensland X-Ray’s MRI clinics, our reception staff will go through some questions with you to reconfirm your booking details.
- So our team can perform your scan safely and effectively, you are required to complete a patient safety questionnaire and change into a gown which we will provide. You will be asked to remove any jewellery, hearing aids, dentures and any other loose items. Your belongings will be safely stored for you during your examination.
- In order to perform your scan, you will lie down on the MRI bed, which will then be moved so the part of the body we are scanning is in the middle of the scanner. Devices called coils are used to help create the images.
- Throughout the procedure, you will be required to keep still.
- Some knee MRI scans will require us to insert an intravenous (IV) line into your arm. We use this to administer contrast dye that can help to enhance the images we take. When the contrast is injected, you may get a metallic taste in your mouth and this is completely normal. It is important to tell the staff if you have had any form of reaction to MRI contrast before.
- The MRI machine makes a very loud knocking and humming sound when the images are being taken. Both hearing protection and an emergency buzzer are provided for the duration of the scan. You will be offered headphones through which the MRI radiographer can talk to you and play a selection of music to help reduce the noise and pass the time more quickly. The knocking will intermittently stop while the computer processes the images for a few seconds at a time before starting again. No-one else will be in the room during your scan, but you can press the buzzer should you need to communicate with the MRI radiographer or stop the exam at any time.
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If you require a knee MRI scan and suffer from claustrophobia, or are uncomfortable with the restrictive space, you can have your doctor prescribe some sedation for you to complete the scan. In more extreme cases of claustrophobia, we can provide twilight sedation at one of our hospital practices. Just mention this at the time of booking.
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Safety is paramount with MRI scanning, so at the time of booking your MRI knee scan and also when you arrive at the MRI clinic for your appointment, you will be asked certain safety questions.
An MRI scanner is essentially a large magnet and certain metal objects like implants are not MRI safe or are MRI conditional. Please let your referring doctor and Queensland X-Ray staff know if you have any of the following:- Cardiac pacemaker
- Defibrillator
- Cochlear implant
- Neurostimulator
- Aneurysm clips
- Active implanted biomedical devices
- Infusion pump
- Continuous Glucose Monitors
- Any implants or devices in your head or body
Please let us know at the time of booking if you are pregnant.
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Most MRI knee scans take approximately 10 - 20 minutes to complete depending on the part of the body we scan.
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The MRI price is subject to variation based on several factors. We will inform you of the price at the time of booking. If you have any questions about our MRI services, Medicare eligibility, health insurance or any out-of-pocket costs, feel free to contact us, and one of our team members will be happy to assist.
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Queensland X-Ray performs a broad range of MRI scans using advanced MRI scanners calibrated for musculoskeletal imaging. All scans are carried out by accredited radiographers and reported by radiologists. If you would prefer a male or female staff member present, or a chaperone, please let us know when booking.
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To make an MRI booking online with Queensland X-Ray, access our portal here.
How much will it cost?
Fees for radiology procedures will vary depending on a variety of factors. We will advise you about the cost of your service at the time of booking but if you do have any questions, contact us and one of our team will be happy to help with your query. You can read more about our billing information here.
How do I access my images?
At Queensland X-Ray, we provide our patients with their images and results online. To access your images and results, you’ll need to register for an account when you visit one of our practices. If you’ve already registered, you can access the Patient Portal here.