Pre- and Postoperative Imaging: What the Surgeon Wants to Know

Musculoskeletal postoperative imaging can be demanding for any radiologist. An accurate and actionable interpretation of postoperative imaging requires a solid understanding of the rationale for surgery, the chosen surgical approach, the range of acceptable postoperative imaging appearances on different imaging modalities, and an awareness of the potential postoperative complications. We selected topics for this issue that reflect both commonly observed and challenging indications for postoperative orthopaedic imaging. Value is added when postoperative imaging interpretations are enhanced by clinical collaboration with our colleagues in orthopaedic surgery. For this reason, each article submitted was written by authors who work in both radiology and orthopaedic surgery.

In this issue, pre- and postoperative imaging assessment is discussed for patients with anterior shoulder instability, femoroacetabular impingement, core muscle injuries, shoulder arthroplasty, patellar instability, peripheral nerve injuries, and thumb carpometacarpal arthroplasty. Additional topics are postoperative imaging of the ankle and of the elbow in throwing athletes. Finally, the imaging of reparable rotator cuff tears and surgical options for irreparable rotator cuff tears are described.

We thank the authors for their hard work and contributions to our knowledge on this important imaging topic. We hope you enjoy and learn from the articles in this issue as much as we did!

Publication History

Article published online:
11 February 2025