PROCEDURES: MRI

29/02/2012
MRI was done today.

I asked what protocol was used, because MRI's  done on patients with metal components are difficult since the metal content of the implant creates large distortions (warping) in the generated images. An optimized MR imaging technique has been developed in New York and Los Angeles, called the MAVRIK and the MARS protocol. It's a newer imaging technique to further reduce metal artifact in generated images, allowing for even better visualization of the bone and soft tissues surrounding metal-on-metal hips.
The radiologist had no idea what I was talking about:(

Left: MRI of right hip resurfacing using optimized metal artifact reduction imaging techniques. There is significant artifact around the metallic components, which limits the ability to visualize the surrounding bone and soft tissue.

Right: MRI of right hip resurfacing using MAVRIC. Greater clarity of the surrounding soft tissues (red arrows) and surrounding bone (yellow arrow) is shown.

Read the published study on MAVRIK protocol MRI by the Department of Radiology and Imaging, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York (September 2011)
The study confirms:
- Visualization of the synovium was significantly better on MAVRIC image
- Synovitis was detected only on the MAVRIC images
- Osteolysis was detected only on the MAVRIC images

02/03/2012
Consultation with my surgeon today. He has not heard of this specific protocol, but the most important thing he said was that there is no problem with the prosthesis and that everything looked normal. The radiologist comments that if there was a small lesion, it would not be seen due to the artifact. So ultimately, the MRI is useless.
03/03/2012
I've had sleepless nights worrying about this problem ,so I have a plan:
1. I need to get a second opinion.
2. I need to question the radiologist about developing the MAVRIK protocol and what it will entail. If this option is not available to me in South Africa, I intend on approaching the Sports Science Institute to look into it. (Why do I get the feeling that South Africa is always the last to know about advancements in this field??)