Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Native Hip Joint.

Abstract

One of the key reasons for the tremendous growth and interest in the operative management of the young adult with hip pain1,2 is advancements in high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)3,4. Although radiographs provide critical information with regard to the osseous architecture and should always remain the first line of investigation, they are limited in their capacity to provide a detailed analysis of the other key anatomical components. MRI is the modality that provides the most comprehensive imaging of the hip joint, allowing for visualization of anatomy and detection of pathological conditions of the various structures, including the labrum, articular cartilage, synovium, and bone. The investigations of labral pathological conditions, femoroacetabular impingement, and early hip arthritis areas are studies in which MRI excels over all other imaging modalities. In this article, we review the basic principles of MRI in the evaluation of the native hip joint and the most common pathological conditions of the hip with their characteristic MRI findings. In clinical practice, 1.5 or 3-Tesla (T) field strength MRI scanners are the most commonly used. Higher field strengths can be favorable as they provide higher signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios5,6. MRI has multiplanar image acquisition capability. It is …