K. Nakanishi et al., MR evaluation of the articular cartilage of the femoral head during traction - Correlation with resected femoral head, ACT RADIOL, 40(1), 1999, pp. 60-63
Citations number
10
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology ,Nuclear Medicine & Imaging","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
Objective: The purpose was to evaluate the articular cartilage of the hip j
oint with MR during traction and compare the findings with the resected spe
cimen or arthroscopic findings.
Material and Methods: Eight healthy volunteers, 5 patients with osteonecros
is, 5 with acetabular dysplasia, and 5 with advanced osteoarthrosis underwe
nt MR imaging to evaluate the articular cartilage of the hip joint. Coronal
fat-suppressed 3D spoiled gradient-echo (SPGR) images were obtained during
traction. Identical imaging was performed of all the resected femoral head
s of the osteonecrosis and advanced osteoarthrosis patients, and was correl
ated with the macroscopic pathological findings.
Results: The traction was effective and the femoral articular cartilage was
clearly identified in all 8 control subjects, and in all cases of osteonec
rosis and acetabular dysplasia. In 4 cases of osteonecrosis, chondral fract
ure was identified in the boundary between the necrosis and the normal area
. In all cases of advanced osteoarthrosis, cartilage was identified only at
the medial side. The MR images of osteonecrosis and advanced osteoarthrosi
s corresponded well with the MR images of the resected femoral heads and th
e macroscopic findings.
Conclusion: Fat suppressed 3D-SPGR during continuous leg traction was usefu
l in detecting cartilage abnormalities.