Learning objectives
Understanding the standard radiographic projections in conventional radiography of the pelvis and hip appropriate to the clinical suspicion.
Discuss the radiographic anatomy,
including the lines,
angles and measurements used to evaluate the hip and reliably recognize structural pathologies of the hip joint.
Demonstratespecific signs and patterns of disease affecting the hip that can be helpful in the early diagnosis of pathologies leading to precocious osteoarthritis and aiding in treatment decision-making.
Background
The anatomy of the hip joint is complex due to its morphology and orientation.
Determining if the hip is normal requires the recognition of the common morphology of the acetabulum and of the femoral head and neck.
Although there are many diagnostic imaging techniques for the evaluation of hip pathologies,
plain radiography is always the initial examination as many structural abnormalities that predispose to early degenerative disease can be recognized based on a single plain radiograph.
Subtle but significant radiographic findings can be challenging to...
Imaging findings OR Procedure Details
A range of simple radiographic measurements can be obtained to accurately diagnose many structural disease of the hip,
congenital or acquired.
1.Acetabular coverage
There are three methods to measure the degree of acetabular coverage:
The Center-edge angle of Wilberg or Lateral center-edge angle allows assessment of the superolateral coverage of the femoral head by the acetabular roof.
It is an angle formed between a vertical line through the center of the femoral head and a line from the center of the femoral head connecting the...
Conclusion
Appropriate image examination and a standardized approach to the plain radiography of the hip is a critical method for the diagnosis of the hip disorders.
It is important not only for the detection of osteoarthritis but also conditions that precede it.
References
Chiamil,
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Imaging of the hip: a systematic approach to the young adult hip.
Muscles,
Ligaments and Tendons Journal 2016; 6 (3):265-280
Lim,
SJ; Park,
YS.
Plain radiography of the hip: a review of radiographic techniques and image features.
Hip Pelvis 27 (3):125-134,
2015
Campbell,
S.
Radiography of the hip: Lines,
Signs and Patterns of disease.
Seminars in Roentgenology
Beltran S,
Rosenberg Zet al.
Imaging evaluation of developmental hip dysplasia in the young adult.
AJR Am J Roentgenol.
2013 May;200(5):1077-88.
Jesse MK,
Peterson...