A COMPUTERTOMOGRAPHIC STUDY ON THE CONGRUENCE OF THE HIP-JOINT

This study describes investigations into the appearance of intra-artic ular spaces of hip joints. In CT scans of cadaver hip joints in the su pine position an increased intra-articular space was found dorsally, w hile in the prone position the same hip joint showed an increased intr a-articular space ventrally. It is assumed generally that the gap betw een the bone ends seen on plane X-rays represents the cartilage, but t his study indicates that there may in fact be a space between the cart ilage surfaces in the unloaded joint. Relevance-Osteotomies for recons tructing arthrotic hip joints are based widely on the assumption that the joint space seen on X-rays is a representation of the joint cartil age. This study reveals that the intra-articular space in general is n ot identical with undamaged layers of cartilage.