MR evaluation of the articular cartilage of the femoral head during traction - Correlation with resected femoral head

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.