ROLE OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) IN EVALUATION OF PAINFUL HIP IN ADULTS

Abstract

The hip joint is the most perfect example in the body of ball and socket joint; it exhibits a wide range of motion in all directions with great natural stability. The hip joint can be affected by a variety of pathological processes that express themselves as "pain"; which may be difficult to specifY both clinically and radiographically.

This work aimed to study the role of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of the causes of hip pain in adults. This study included 20 adult patients complaining of hip pain. These patients were represented to the Alexandria university hospitals during the period from March 2001 to January 2002. They were thirteen males ranging from 15 to 46 years (with mean age of27.3 years), and seven female patients ranging from 18 to 55 years (with mean age of 33.2 years). Each one of these 20 patients was subjected to: 1. Thorough history taking.

2. Complete clinical examination; general systemic examination and local examination of the hip joints. 3. Plain x-ray of both hip joints; AP and lateral views.

4. MRI of the hip joints.

Seven patients of them were subjected to CT scanning of the hip joints.

The examination using the above mentioned methods revealed that: six patients had avascular necrosis, five had infection, three had neoplastic lesions, three had osteoarthritis, three had arthropathies, one patient had a fracture and the last patient had normal hip joints and the pain proved to be a referred pain.