Injury-related imaging has emerged as one of the more commonly used and enthusiastically accepted areas of musculoskeletal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The multiplanar capability of the technique coupled with its soft tissue contrast resolution make MRI superbly suited for evaluation of the principal constituents of the musculoskeletal system. The noninvasive nature of MRI has facilitated evaluation of patients who have experienced recent trauma. MRI has demonstrated an expanded diagnostic capacity that has allowed depiction of a broad spectrum of trauma-related abnormalities, many of which have previously escaped early detection. The sensitivity and accuracy of the method have allowed MRI to challenge and, in an increasing number of situations, replace previously established and often more invasive diagnostic procedures.This article reviews the principal applications of MRI in the assessment of injuries to the musculoskeletal system. The emphasis is on the most commonly encountered conditions, both accidental and sports related. A consideration of technical factors as they pertain to the design and interpretation of trauma-related MRI is presented, followed by a regional (anatomic) approach to specific MRI applications.