Musculoskeletal CT

A CT scan of bones and joints is a series of thin X-ray slices. Software turns them into precise 2D and 3D images of the area. CT shows small cracks, bone fragments, changes in bone structure and the position of joint surfaces that a plain X-ray cannot show. At Oberig Clinic we scan on multislice CT units with 128, 64 and 20 slices, and radiologists of the Diagnostic Department read the images. The price list charges the same for any single body area: spine, joint, pelvic bones or skull.

When bone and joint CT is ordered

Most often an orthopedic trauma surgeon, a neurosurgeon or a neurologist orders it. Typical reasons: complex fractures, especially those that reach into a joint, a suspected fracture that does not show on X-ray, planning surgery and checking results afterward, including after plates, screws and joint replacements. CT also helps assess wear-and-tear changes in joints and the spine, narrowing of the spinal canal, birth defects, and bone changes the doctor wants to clarify after an X-ray or MRI.

An X-ray is the first and simplest step. It quickly shows an obvious fracture, a dislocation, or major joint damage. But it is one shadow where bones overlap. CT splits the area into hundreds of thin layers, and the doctor sees each fragment from any angle. That is why CT comes next when the X-ray gives no answer, when a fracture is complex or enters a joint, or when the surgeon needs exact measurements. After a fresh injury with severe pain, swelling, or if you cannot bear weight, do not delay. For a serious injury, go to emergency care.

CT is also fast and precise for bone. One area takes a few minutes, so you can manage it even with strong pain. The 3D view gives the surgeon a model of the bone before the operation.

MRI or CT of the spine: which is better

It depends on the question your doctor is asking. MRI shows soft tissue better: discs and herniations, the spinal cord, nerve roots, ligaments, bone marrow swelling. CT shows bone better: vertebral fractures, cracks, bone spurs, canal narrowing from bony growths, and the state of hardware after surgery. CT also suits people who cannot have MRI, for example with a pacemaker, or who cannot lie still for long. Doctors often order both, because they complement each other. A typical pairing: MRI to find which disc presses on a nerve, then CT to plan the bone part of the surgery. If you already have one of the two scans, bring it along. The radiologist will compare and focus on what is still unclear.

Spine CT

The spine is scanned by section: neck, chest, lower back, sacrum and tailbone. The scan shows the height and shape of each vertebra, fractures including compression fractures from osteoporosis, slippage of one vertebra over another (spondylolisthesis), bone spurs, and narrowing of the openings where nerves exit. CT can show a disc herniation too, but MRI shows it in more detail. More on the spine CT page.

Spine CT is most often done after falls and car accidents, for back pain in older people with a suspected osteoporotic fracture, before spine surgery and to check screws and rods afterward. It also helps when back pain comes with numbness or weakness in the legs and MRI is not an option.

Joint CT

The knee is most often scanned after an injury when the X-ray hints at a fracture of the condyle or kneecap, and before surgery. Knee CT is also used to plan a knee replacement, when the surgeon needs exact bone sizes and the alignment of the leg. In sports injuries, CT helps find small bone fragments torn off where ligaments attach.

Shoulder CT is ordered for repeated dislocations, to check bone loss in the socket, and for complex fractures of the upper arm bone. Elbow CT shows small fragments and loose bodies in the joint. Wrist CT finds scaphoid fractures that are easy to miss on X-ray. Hand CT helps with injuries to the small bones and before reconstructive surgery.

Hip CT is used for femoral neck and socket fractures, dysplasia, avascular necrosis of the femoral head and planning a hip replacement. Ankle and foot CT comes after a twisted ankle with a suspected talus or heel bone fracture, which X-ray often misses. Menisci, ligaments and cartilage show better on MRI. For injuries without a fracture, doctors usually start with MRI. More on the joint CT page.

Checking results after surgery is a separate task. CT shows how screws, plates and implant parts sit, whether the bone has healed and whether anything has loosened. MRI near metal gives strong distortion. CT with modern metal artifact reduction lets the surgeon see what matters.

Pelvic bone CT

The pelvis is a complex ring, and fractures in it are often multiple. X-ray shows them only in part. CT gives the full picture: fracture lines, fragment shift, the hip sockets and the sacroiliac joints. The scan is also ordered for pain in the sacroiliac joints, suspected inflammation there, and to plan hip surgery. It does not assess the pelvic organs such as the uterus, ovaries or bladder. Those need separate CT or MRI protocols. Pelvic CT is also useful after a hip replacement, to check the cup position and bone around it, and in elderly people after a fall when a hip or pelvic fracture is suspected but the X-ray looks normal.

Skull, temporal bones and jaw joints

Skull CT shows the bones of the vault and base, fractures after injury, bone defects and growths. It is ordered after head blows, for skull shape problems in children, and before reconstructive surgery. Note that the brain itself needs a separate test, a head CT, and your doctor will say which one you need. Facial bone CT is done after facial injuries, for fractures of the cheekbone, eye socket, nose or jaw.

Temporal bone CT checks the middle and inner ear and the tiny ear bones. An ENT doctor orders it for chronic ear infections, hearing loss and before ear surgery. Jaw joint (TMJ) CT is ordered for pain and clicking in the joint, trouble opening the mouth, and after jaw injuries. It shows the shape of the joint heads and sockets and bone changes. The disc inside the joint shows better on MRI.

How to prepare and how it goes

No special prep, and you can eat as usual. Before the scan, remove metal from the area: jewelry, a watch, a belt, clothes with fasteners. You lie on the CT table, the doctor positions the area, and the table moves through the ring of the scanner. One area takes a few minutes. The key is to stay still. If pain makes it hard to lie in one position, tell the staff, and they will help you find a more comfortable one. Breathing normally is fine for most areas, except the chest spine, where the doctor may ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds.

Contrast is rarely needed for bone. It goes into a vein when a tumor or infection is suspected, or to see vessels near the bone. Then you need a recent creatinine test. CT is not done in pregnancy. Tell the doctor if you are or might be pregnant.

After the scan, the radiologist describes the bones, joints and nearby soft tissue, measures fragments, shifts and canal width, and makes 3D reconstructions if needed. Surgeons use them to plan the approach, choose the plate or implant size and check how the bone has healed. Results are ready within 24 hours, except weekends and holidays. You get the images and the report to keep.

Common questions

How much radiation is there?

More than an X-ray, but for one area the dose is small, especially for arm and leg joints. The scanners use low-dose protocols, and the doctor scans only the area needed.

Can I have CT with a metal implant?

Yes. Unlike MRI, metal is not a problem. It may cause some artifacts, but modern software reduces them. In fact, checking implants is one of the most common reasons for bone CT.

Do I need a referral?

It helps, because your doctor names the area and the question. Without one, the radiologist will help you decide on site which area to scan.

Do children have CT?

Yes, only when truly needed, with special child dose settings. A parent can stay nearby in a protective apron.

What should I bring?

Your referral, earlier X-rays, CT or MRI of the area, and discharge notes after surgery. Comparing with old images is often worth more than one new scan.

How many areas can be scanned at once?

As many as needed. Each area is charged separately. Scanning several areas in a row takes only a little longer. Mention it when you book, so we reserve enough time.

Will CT show osteoporosis?

CT can show signs of low bone density and vertebral fractures, but the standard test for osteoporosis is densitometry. It is quick and uses a much lower dose.

Bone and joint CT prices

One area, one price: UAH 2,455. A neck, chest or lower back section of the spine each costs the same. With contrast, the price adds up from two lines of the price list. The same rule applies to joints. The price is for one joint. If you need both knees, each knee counts as a separate area. For the hips, ask when you book whether both fit into one area. The pelvis, the skull and the jaw joints each count as one area too. If you are not sure how many areas your referral covers, call the contact center or ask the radiologist on the day. You will know the exact price before the scan starts.

Test	Price
CT of one musculoskeletal area	UAH 2,455
Contrast enhancement for multislice CT	UAH 2,645

Prices are from the clinic price list as of 26.10.2026. They may change. Please check the current price with the contact center.

Why choose Oberig Clinic

• 3 CT scanners (128, 64 and 20 slices) and low-dose protocols.
• The Diagnostic Department is a Siemens reference center, follows American College of Radiology protocols and gives results within 24 hours.
• Experienced radiologists: T. Matsiievskyi, I. Mykytenko, O. Lysenko, I. Frunze, A. Korniichuk, M. Kovratko.
• Orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, MRI and X-ray in one clinic: from diagnosis to treatment without moving between places.

Address: 3 Zoolohichna St, buildings G and V, Kyiv. Book online at https://my.oberig.ua/ua/appointment/ or call +38 044 521 30 03.