What an MRI of the Hip Reveals

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic method that provides a detailed picture of pathological changes anywhere on the human body.

Orthopedic practitioners rely on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the hip joint to investigate potential causes of coxalgia – joint pain syndrome – commonly called coxalgia. MRI doesn’t involve using any radiation, making this method especially suitable for children and pregnant women. Magnetic resonance and computer technologies enable creation of clear images which can be magnified and viewed volumetrically; contrast enhancement further improves imaging capabilities, providing comparable diagnostic value as photos taken after gadolinium injection is comparable with that obtained during an arthroscopy – study that penetrates into joint cavity using surgical instruments invasive study of coxalgia diagnosis.

How is an MRI of the hip joint performed? Scans are performed using machines with different magnetic field strengths. Your physician can select programs independently based on clinical objectives if it is unclear which organ or joint pathology caused your pain syndrome initially; multiparametric sequences may also be employed as standard practice.

An MRI examination may help detect diseases of the hip joint.

Magnetic resonance scans (MRI) can be used to diagnose various pathologies of the hip joint. An MRI of this joint reveals three key features.

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Femoraloacetabular impingement syndrome refers to any mechanical conflict between the femoral head/neck and edge of an acetabulum caused by either congenital or acquired bone defects that affect either one or both acetabuli. Modified components of an articulation lead to malfunction of a limb by colliding during movement. Pathological bone friction contributes to osteophyte formation caused by constant traumatization of an acetabular lip. If the disease is left undiagnosed and untreated in time, the cartilage tissue surrounding articulating bones could eventually rupture and be destroyed, leading to coxarthrosis and eventually progressive pain syndromes.

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome can have many causes. An MRI of the hip joint in these cases reveals possible triggers:

Congenital malformations;traumatic injuries and surgical interventions;traumatic complications following trauma or surgical interventions; concomitant avascular necrosis of the femoral head; synovial sac inflammation processes; osteochondropathy (Perters disease); epiphysiolysis (Salter-Harris fracture);
Atrophy of muscles surrounding joints. When combined with diabetes mellitus with circulatory problems and physical overload, concomitant diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (arthritis, gout, systemic lupus erythematosus etc), and bone and cartilage structures destruction is observed.

Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a long-standing pathological process which leads to the destruction of all components in a hip joint, eventually leading to complete loss of function and pain for its user. On an MRI using contrast dye imaging, changes can be seen in bone tissue, ligaments, blood vessels, cartilage and surrounding muscles – including nerve bundles causing persistent hip discomfort. Predisposing factors include factors like obesity.

Endocrine problems; heavy sports; obesity; arthritis/arthrosis associated with obesity can all play a part in hip dysplasia progression. Hip MRI imaging shows early changes, when treatment can help stop or at least delay progression with medication therapy. The disease has three degrees of severity. Hip MRI can detect changes at an early stage. Medications therapy could then be utilized to manage and halt further progression of pathologies.

Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head.
Avascular necrosis develops from prolonged disruption in nutrition of the hip joint due to blood thickening, thrombosis, compression or twisting of vessels resulting in ischemia causing bone tissue deformation and cartilage detachment; clinical manifestations may not be specific leading to difficulties in diagnosis. Furthermore there can be numerous triggers:

Trauma; Extended Hormone Therapy (HT); Intoxication, Exposure to Ionizing Radiation etc are all contributory factors, yet early changes are not detectable by traditional imaging technologies such as X-Ray or Ultrasound scans alone; Hip MRI provides one of the most reliable ways of detecting early changes of hip disease.

Tumors. Both benign and malignant tumors may arise in the hip joint. An MRI picture can demonstrate its presumptive nature while further verification requires biopsy. Pain symptoms typically manifest themselves when nerve endings, boundary tissues or vessels become compressed due to any tumor; so its absence should not delay evaluation by MRI. CT scanning provides better assessment for primary bone neoplasms while MRI can more readily demonstrate soft tissue changes.