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Trends in knee magnetic resonance imaging
Daniel H Solomon1, Jeffrey N Katz, John A Carrino
1Division of Pharmacoepidemiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. dhsolomon@partners.org
Medical Care
|April 30, 2003
Summary
Knee MRI use surged from 1991-1995, but fewer patients had prior diagnoses or subsequent knee surgery, suggesting broader MRI indications. This trend highlights changes in diagnostic imaging practices.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a key diagnostic tool for knee injuries.
- Understanding trends in MRI utilization and its impact on patient management is crucial for healthcare resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in knee MRI utilization rates over a five-year period.
- To determine if the indications for knee MRI and subsequent patient management have evolved.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study analyzed data from a large administrative database (587,010 individuals) from 1991 to 1995.
- Examined annual knee MRI rates and the proportion of patients with prior knee diagnoses or subsequent specialist care/surgery.
Main Results:
- Knee MRI rates increased by 140% from 1.4 to 3.4 per 1000 person-years between 1991 and 1995.
- The proportion of MRIs performed without a prior knee diagnosis rose from 13% to 33%.
- The percentage of patients receiving specialist care or surgery post-MRI decreased from 68% to 58%.
Conclusions:
- Knee MRI utilization significantly increased during the study period.
- The findings suggest a broadening of criteria for knee MRI, with less frequent correlation to specific diagnoses or surgical interventions.