A cross-sectional scan of the tibia and fibula and the ankle joint. It assesses the bone through its full thickness and detects fractures, cracks, bone destruction and tumours, including when an X-ray looked normal.
- Duration5 minutes
- Contrastnot used
- Preparationnone
- Report30 min – 1 hour
What it shows
- Fractures and cracks of the tibia and fibula, including intra-articular ones
- Inflammation and destruction of bone tissue
- Benign and malignant bone tumours of the lower leg
- Abnormalities of the lower leg bones and the ankle joint
- Fluid in the ankle joint
- Foreign bodies
- How a fracture is healing
When it is recommended
- Injury to the lower leg with a suspected fracture or crack, even if the X-ray looks normal
- Unexplained pain in the lower leg or ankle, ankle swelling
- Checking how a fracture is healing
- Planning surgery with metal implants
- Suspected bone tumour or multiple myeloma
- Bone destruction due to advanced arthritis of adjacent joints, tuberculosis or sepsis
- Deformity of the lower leg
- Clarifying the results of other examinations
Good to know
- There is no need to remove a bandage or plaster cast before the scan.
- The knee is only partly included in the scan; a separate CT of the knee is needed to assess it.
- MRI is more informative for changes in muscles, ligaments and the interosseous membrane.
General information about CT — safety, contraindications, contrast and what to expect — is on the CT page.