Imaging the knee in the setting of metal hardware.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is an established modality for the evaluation of musculoskeletal structures, including the knee. Metallic implants are increasingly used and techniques to minimize artifacts are continuously improving. This article reviews the general principles behind the effects of metal on MR imaging, various MR imaging techniques that are available or have been recently described in the literature, and abnormalities that can be encountered during MR imaging of patients related to knee arthroplasty, hardware after internal fixation, or hardware used for soft tissue fixation. Published by Elsevier Inc.