Real-time MRI of the moving wrist at 0.55 tesla

OBJECTIVES: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using 1.5T or 3.0T systems is routinely employed for assessing wrist pathology; however, due to off-resonance artifacts and high power deposition, these high-field systems have drawbacks for real-time (RT) imaging of the moving wrist. Recently, high-performance 0.55T MRI systems have become available. In this proof-of-concept study, we tested the hypothesis that RT-MRI during continuous, active, and uninterrupted wrist motion is feasible with a high-performance 0.55T system at temporal resolutions below 100 ms and that the resulting images provide visualization of tissues commonly interrogated for assessing dynamic wrist instability. METHODS: Participants were scanned during uninterrupted wrist radial-ulnar deviation and clenched fist maneuvers. Resulting images (nominal temporal resolution of 12.7–164.6 ms per image) were assessed for image quality. Feasibility of static MRI to supplement RT-MRI acquisition was also tested. RESULTS: The RT images with temporal resolutions < 100 ms demonstrated low distortion and image artifacts, and higher reader assessment scores. Static MRI scans showed the ability to assess anatomical structures of interest in the wrist. CONCLUSION: RT-MRI of the wrist at a high temporal resolution, coupled with static MRI, is feasible with a high-performance 0.55T system, and may enable improved assessment of wrist dynamic dysfunction and instability. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Real-time MRI of the moving wrist is feasible with high-performance 0.55T and may improve the evaluation of dynamic dysfunction of the wrist.