Screening of Painful Hip Joint with Radiography and MRI

ABSTRACT

The basic tool for hip joint study is radiography. Pelvic radiograph helps in deciding whether the hip joint is normal and also includes opposite hip joint for comparison. It also helps in identification of signs of degenerative and inflammatory changes, avascular necrosis, soft tissue calcification and bone tumours. The investigation of choice to assess the bone marrow, acetabular labrum, articular cartilage, peri-articular muscles, tendons, ligaments and bursae is MRI. Pain at hip joint has different aetiologies divided into intra-articular, peri-articular and extra-articular conditions in adults and children. This study is being done to evaluate painful hip joint with radiography and MRI.METHODS50 cases of painful hip joint referred to the Radiology Department, Bharati Hospital were evaluated with radiography and MRI over a period of 24 months.RESULTSOut of 50 patients 20 were diagnosed as AVN, 10 cases showed changes of osteoarthritis, 7 cases had joint effusion, 5 cases were of fracture of neck of femur, 4 cases had sacroiliitis and 4 cases revealed metastatic disease of hip joint. Of the 50 cases that presented with pain in hip joint, 26 cases showed radiographic findings. The rest 24 radiographs were normal.CONCLUSIONSRadiography is easily available and economical for imaging the hip joint. Radiography is the initial investigation for evaluation of joint pain. MRI is non-invasive. There is no radiation exposure. It is a valuable tool in diagnosing hip pain when radiography shows subtle or no findings. MR imaging is the most sensitive imaging modality for bone pain.