Other imaging

Other imaging that may be required includes:

• ultrasound (to define cavities, collections or radiolucent foreign bodies)
• plain X-ray (if a foreign body or osteomyelitis is suspected)
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the foot or ankle, or radionuclide bone scans (if further investigation for osteomyelitis is required).

MRI is expensive and not subsidised by Medicare. The probe-to-bone test is a much cheaper alternative for osteomyelitis diagnosis; see Examining the foot. Do not perform MRI unless the clinical suspicion of osteomyelitis is high but the diagnosis cannot be confirmed by other means. See also Osteomyelitis.