CT - Arthrography

CT arthrography is a sensitive method for detecting intra-articular pathologies (scapholunate / lunotriquetral dissociation, TFCC lesion, chonodropathy).

CT arthrography is used to visualize the third spatial plane following conventional arthrography. This allows, for example, to determine dorsal and/or palmar lesion locations on the scapholunate ligament in cases where arthrography has demonstrated intercompartmental contrast communication. Another example is the detection of the rupture of the foveal lamina at the TFCC. Both examples are relevant for therapy.

The mechanism is based on two effects: First, the distension caused by the intra-articular contrast agent causes the intra-articular structures, such as the scapholunate and lunotriquetral ligaments and the TFCC, to separate and thus become more easily delineated. Second, intra-articular contrast agent leads to increased contrast at the ligaments and the TFCC.

The advantages of CT arthrography over MR arthrography are the fast performance and the higher in-plane resolution of 1024 x 1024.

Tags: Hand, Arthroography, CT Computed tomography