My son had an ankle injury about 10 days ago. The ankle was swollen and painful. He could not bear weight. The ankle was bandaged. RICE was advised . Crutches were given and an xray was ordered.

This is the second time this year, his right ankle has been injured. Just ankle sprain before.

The ankle is progressing fine but the xray report threw a spanner in the works.

THe Xray report:

Soft tissue swelling over the lateral malleolus and anterior ankle is noted . A small 3 mm calcific desisty is seen projected over the medial ankle joint see only on the frontal vieew. The exact location is uncertain but is suspected to be withing the ankle joint and is suspicious for a fracture fragment . The donor site may be in the distal tibial articular surface medially where there is a very faint cortical irregularity.

The GP recommended a CT scan. He is concerned that this fragment is a loose body and if so needs to be removed.

My questions

As there is no radiation dose with MRI, I have a preference for this. I asked my doctor if we could do this instead and he said he was not sure. He believed that MRI could only pick up soft tissue not bone.

How effective is MRI to detect loose calcific bodies in the ankle. Then also, how accurate is it to identify the position in the ankle.

I hope someone can help or point me in the right direction