CT HAND

A CT scan of hand is a powerful and precise imaging test used to get a detailed look at the complex structures within your hand and wrist. At Cadabams Diagnostics, we use state-of-the-art Computed Tomography (CT) technology to provide your doctor with the crucial information needed for an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the procedure, from why it's ordered to what the results mean. For most patients, it is a quick, painless, and non-invasive test that offers invaluable insights into the health of your hand's bones, joints, and surrounding tissues.

What is a CT Scan of the Hand?

A CT scan, short for Computed Tomography, uses specialized X-ray equipment combined with sophisticated computers to create highly detailed images of your body. Unlike a standard X-ray which takes a single, flat picture, a CT scanner rotates around your hand, taking numerous X-ray images from many different angles.

A powerful computer then processes these images, digitally assembling them into cross-sectional "slices." This allows a radiologist to view your hand's anatomy with exceptional clarity. These slices can also be combined to create detailed 3D models of the bones and joints, offering a significant advantage over other imaging methods for evaluating complex bone structures.

Types of CT Scan of the Hand

Depending on the information your doctor needs, your scan may be performed with or without a special contrast dye.

Without Contrast

This is the standard procedure and is performed for most hand CT scans. It provides excellent, clear images of the bones and is perfect for diagnosing and evaluating most fractures and degenerative conditions like arthritis.

With Contrast

A CT scan of hand with contrast involves injecting an iodine-based dye into a vein, usually in your arm. This dye travels through your bloodstream and highlights blood vessels and certain types of tissue. This helps our radiologists better identify and characterize issues like inflammation, infections, or tumors. You will be asked about any allergies or kidney problems before receiving contrast.

When a radiologist at Cadabams Diagnostics reviews your scan, they are meticulously checking for a number of specific details, including:

• Bone Integrity: Looking for any fracture lines, especially in the small, complex carpal (wrist) bones, and assessing if the fracture is simple or shattered (comminuted).
• Joint Alignment and Spacing: Checking for proper alignment of the many joints in the hand and wrist to detect dislocations, subluxations, or joint space narrowing caused by arthritis.
• Abnormal Findings: Searching for the presence of loose bone fragments after an injury, foreign bodies (like glass or metal), or bone spurs (osteophytes) that can cause pain.
• Soft Tissues: Assessing for signs of significant soft tissue swelling, fluid collections, or masses.
• Bone Texture and Density: Evaluating for changes in the bone's appearance that could suggest conditions like bone tumors, infections (osteomyelitis), or avascular necrosis.

There are many specific clinical reasons your doctor might order this test. It is a key diagnostic tool used:

• To accurately diagnose and characterize the extent of an injury after trauma, making it essential for a CT scan for hand injury.
• To investigate the underlying cause of chronic or unexplained pain, persistent swelling, or limited range of motion in the hand or wrist joints.
• To create a detailed roadmap for surgeons before they perform complex procedures, such as repairing a difficult fracture or performing a joint replacement.
• To rule out or confirm the presence of serious conditions like bone tumors or deep-seated infections.
• To monitor the healing process of a fracture over time.

When and Who Needs to Take a CT Scan of the Hand?

Your doctor may recommend a CT scan of hand for several reasons. It is commonly ordered for:

• Patients with a suspected complex fracture that isn't fully visible or clear on a standard X-ray.
• Individuals who have suffered a significant hand injury, such as from a fall or accident, to precisely assess the extent of bone and joint damage.
• People experiencing symptoms of arthritis or degenerative joint disease, like persistent pain, stiffness, and swelling in the hands.
• Patients who are being evaluated before surgery on their hand or wrist to help surgeons plan the procedure.
• Individuals who need post-operative follow-up to assess healing and the position of surgical hardware like screws or plates.

Benefits of Taking the Test

Opting for a CT scan of hand at Cadabams Diagnostics provides several key benefits:

• Exceptional Detail: It provides far more detail of the bone structures and their spatial relationships than a standard X-ray.
• Speed and Efficiency: The scan itself is very fast, often taking less than a minute. This is crucial in emergency situations and for patients in significant pain.
• Improved Surgical Outcomes: By giving surgeons a clear 3D view of the problem, it allows for more precise planning, which can lead to better surgical results and faster recovery.
• Diagnostic Clarity: It can successfully diagnose problems that are difficult or impossible to identify with other imaging methods, leading to a faster, more accurate diagnosis.

Illnesses Diagnosed with CT Hand

A hand CT scan is instrumental in diagnosing a wide range of conditions, including:

• Complex, comminuted, or intra-articular (involving the joint surface) fractures.
• Occult fractures, such as a scaphoid fracture, which are often missed on initial X-rays.
• Dislocations and subluxations of the wrist and finger joints.
• Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, by showing joint space narrowing and bone erosions.
• Bone infections (osteomyelitis).
• Benign and malignant bone tumors.
• Avascular necrosis (death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply).

Preparation for a hand CT is simple and straightforward.

• Clothing: You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes for your appointment.
• Jewelry and Metal: You will be asked to remove all jewelry (rings, bracelets), watches, and any other removable metal objects from the hand and arm being scanned.
• For Contrast Scans: If your scan is scheduled with contrast, you may be asked to avoid eating or drinking for 2-4 hours beforehand. Please follow the specific instructions given to you when you book your appointment. It is vital to inform our staff of any known allergies or kidney problems.

Pre-requisites

• A doctor’s referral or prescription is typically required to undergo a CT scan.
• If you have had any previous imaging of your hand (like X-rays or an MRI), please bring the reports with you for comparison.
• Be ready to inform the technologist about your relevant medical history.

Best Time to Take the CT Scan of the Hand

There is no “best time” of day to have a hand CT scan. The test is performed based on medical urgency and the scheduling availability at Cadabams Diagnostics. For acute trauma, it is often performed immediately. For non-urgent cases, you can book an appointment that is convenient for you.

Eligibility

Most individuals are eligible for a hand CT scan. However, there are a few contraindications, particularly for scans involving contrast dye:

• Contraindications for Contrast: Patients with severe kidney disease or a known, severe allergy to iodinated contrast material may not be eligible for a contrast-enhanced scan. Alternative imaging may be recommended.

Procedure for Taking a Computed Tomography of the Hand

The procedure for a computed tomography of the hand is designed to be as comfortable and efficient as possible.

1. Positioning: You will be asked to lie down on a padded, motorized table. The technologist will help you get comfortable and will position your hand and arm in a special holder to ensure it remains perfectly still during the scan.
2. Scanning: The table will then gently slide into the center of the large, doughnut-shaped CT scanner. The scanner is open at both ends, so you will not feel enclosed.
3. Image Capture: The scanner will quietly rotate around your hand, capturing hundreds of images in just a few seconds. It is very important to remain completely still to ensure the images are sharp and clear.
4. Communication: The technologist will operate the scanner from an adjacent control room. They can see and hear you at all times and will communicate with you through an intercom. The entire scan itself usually takes less than a minute.

Caution Before Taking the Test

For your safety, please inform our staff about the following before your scan:

• Pregnancy: If you are or think you might be pregnant, you must inform your doctor and our technologist. While the radiation dose is low and focused on the hand, it is a critical piece of information.
• Allergies: Please disclose any and all known allergies, especially to iodine, shellfish, or previous X-ray contrast dyes.
• Medical Conditions: Inform the staff if you have diabetes, kidney disease, asthma, or heart disease. If you are taking metformin (Glucophage), you may be asked to stop taking it for a short period after a contrast-enhanced scan.