The accuracy of magnetic resonance arthrogram in diagnosing hip labral tears (SS-94)

Abstract

Recent advances in hip arthroscopy has made vast improvements in the treatment of hip labral tears. However, the diagnosis of a hip labral tear can be difficult clinically. MRI arthrogram has become the most reliable diagnostic test of choice with reports of >90% sensitivity. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients undergoing hip arthroscopy by a single surgeon from 4/2001 to 6/2003. This entailed 34 hips (22 right, 12 left) in 32 patients (15 male, 17 female), ages 16 to 79 years. For these 34 hips, 32 MRI reports were reviewed consisting of 22 MRI arthrograms (MRa) and 10 standard MRI. All of the 22 MRa had been read by radiologists from the same hospital, and 8 of the 10 standard MRI had been read by this group. Only 36% (8/22) of the MRa were read as positive for labral tears; one MRa identified pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS), and 38% (3/8) of the standard MRI were read as positive. At arthroscopy, 97% of the hips had labral tears (33/34); one had PVNS. At our institution MRa has a sensitivity of 38% (8/21) for identifying hip labral tears.