MRI-Induced Second and Third Degree Burns to Hands Bilaterally: A Case Report

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an essential tool in medicine that provides important diagnostic information that would otherwise not be obtained using other techniques (i.e. CNS disorders, joint damage, etc.). According to statistics collected for 2013 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 106.8 MRI exams were ordered per 1,000 populations in the United States for 2013 alone. Review of the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database in 2010 by the FDA found 419 thermal injuries to be associated with MRI over a 12 year period, including 1st, 2nd, and 3nd degree burns. The purpose of this case report is to raise awareness of the potential for painful thermal injuries caused by MRI exams using the case of a 37 year old male patient who received 2nd and 3nd degree burns to both thumbs and the right index finger. Most adverse events from MRI have been found to be due to improper patient positioning or improper equipment use. Therefore, it is imperative that patients, clinicians and technicians are all familiar with the potential for thermal injuries incurred from MRI exams. Possible mechanisms for MRI induced thermal injury will be discussed with a focus on ways to prevent such injuries.