Knee scans – X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and Ultrasound – are a crucial part of orthopaedics. They help us investigate arthritis damage, diagnose tears and fractures, and get to the root of all kinds of knee pain.
So, if you need to have a knee scan here in Hampshire, how does the process work? Here’s a quick guide to the ins and outs of scanning, radiology and radiography at Chris Bailey Orthopaedics.
Why you might need a knee scan
Knee scans, as you’d expect, give us a clearer picture of what’s really going on inside the knee joint. But which kind will you need? The four main types of scans are used for different types of assessment, diagnosis and clarification. In very broad terms…
X-rays – are useful for examining bone problems, including fractures, malalignments and bone spurs, and for assessing arthritis damage
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – is useful for examining issues with the soft tissues in the knee, including ligament tears, swelling, inflammation and infections, and the structure of the joint
Ultrasound – is useful for assessing soft tissues and other knee structures in real-time, as we pass the scanner over your skin
Computerised tomography (CT) – creates a cross-sectional image of the knee, useful for assessing everything from bone damage to arthritis and tumours
(For more detail on how the four scans compare, see this article: X-ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound for knees – what’s the difference?)
How it works
To get a scan, you’ll need a referral from another medical professional. That might be your GP or physiotherapist, for example. But here in our Hampshire clinics, most referrals come from Mr Bailey. When you come in for your consultation, he’ll assess your knee. If he thinks it would be good to order some imagery, he’ll complete a referral form during your appointment.
How to book
Once you have your form, you can leave it with Anita or Claire at reception. They’ll send it to the scanning team, who will get in touch with you to arrange the scan date. Alternatively, you can take it straight to the hospital imaging department yourself. If there are slots available, it’s often possible to have the scan on the same day.
Where to go
Your scan will be at the same hospital as your consultation with Mr Bailey. That’s either the Sarum Road Hospital in Winchester or the Nuffield Wessex Hospital in Chandler’s Ford. Both departments are easy to find. Just make your way to the main hospital receptions. Sarum Road’s Imaging & Radiology department is right alongside. At the Wessex, turn left at reception and head to the next desk down.
What it costs
If you have health insurance, your provider may be able to cover the cost of the scan. Or you can choose to pay for it privately. You can find a price guide to some of the scan types on the hospital websites: see the Imaging & Radiology page for the Sarum Road Hospital and the Treatment prices page for the Nuffield Wessex Hospital.
What to wear
This varies depending on the type of scan. Generally, it’s best to wear loose-fitting clothes to any knee scan – either trousers you can pull up above the knee or shorts, a skirt, or a dress. For an MRI, avoid metal items (zips, buttons, coins etc); the same often applies to X-rays and CTs too. There are usually no restrictions with an ultrasound. Bear in mind, though, that the scanning team can also supply you with a medical gown if necessary.
What to do next
If you’ve booked an appointment with Mr Bailey, it’s worth thinking about when you’d like to have the scan, and which hospital you’d prefer to attend, if he refers you for one. If you already have some recent images through another healthcare provider, he can review those too. Just let our secretaries know about them beforehand and they can arrange for the images to be forwarded to Mr Bailey in time for your appointment. It usually takes about two days for them to arrive with us.
Need more information about knee scans?
You can get lots more information about the four types of knee scans on our website, including:
- The reasons why you would have one scan and not another
- The technology behind each of the scans
- How safe the different types of scans are
- What would prevent you from being able to have a scan
Head to the new Scans section for all the detail!
