Reason: eval for septic joint History: overlying wrist cellulitis, diminished ROM Limited study due to suboptimal coil.There is thickening of the skin of the wrist with subcutaneous edema both volarly and dorsally. There is also edema of the interosseous musculature and scanned portions of the hypothenar musculature with sparing of the thenar musculature. Mild edema of the pronator quadratus and distal flexor musculature. Additionally, there is fatty atrophy of the intraosseous muscles.There is small amount of fluid surrounding the extensor digitorum and extensor carpi ulnaris tendons as they cross the carpus. We see no soft tissue fluid collection to suggest abscess. There is trace fluid in the joints of the wrist, within normal limits. We see no specific features of septic arthritis. There is mild increased signal intensity in the distal ulna, medial margin of the triquetrum, and medial margin of the hamate on fat-suppressed T2-weighted images with relative preservation of signal on T1 images. This finding may represent reactive osteitis, but we see no frank cortical destruction to confirm osteomyelitis. Otherwise bone marrow signal is normal. Please note, this study was not protocoled for or of sufficient quality to assess intrinsic ligaments of the wrist or TFCC; however, no gross abnormalities noted.
Limited evaluation of the wrist due to suboptimal coil as patient's wrist was in a cast (per verbal communication with technologist).Nonspecific soft tissue inflammation as above compatible with cellulitis without evidence of abscess formation. We see no specific findings of septic arthritis. Other findings as above.