Trends in MR Arthrogram Utilization at a Tertiary Care Academic Center.

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Orthopedic Imaging
• Medical Trends Analysis

Background:

• Magnetic Resonance (MR) arthrography is a key diagnostic tool for evaluating joint pathology.
• Understanding utilization trends is crucial for resource allocation and clinical practice evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate trends in MR arthrogram utilization for shoulder, hip, and elbow joints.
• To identify potential factors influencing these utilization trends at a tertiary care academic institution.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1882 MR arthrograms from 2013-2020.
• Inclusion of patient demographics, sports participation, prior surgery history, and referral source.
• Statistical analysis including descriptive statistics, linear regression, and chi-square tests.

Main Results:

• Overall MR arthrogram prevalence decreased significantly between 2013 and 2020 (P < 0.001).
• This decline occurred despite an increase in total MR imaging volume.
• Orthopedic referrals for hip and shoulder MR arthrograms significantly decreased towards the study's end (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions:

• MR arthrogram utilization has markedly decreased over the past eight years at this institution.
• The declining trend, particularly in orthopedic referrals for shoulder and hip, warrants further investigation into underlying causes.