Publication:

The role of magnetic resonance imaging in non-traumatic chronic hip joint pain in adult rural population

Background Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has changed the face of diagnostic techniques; it has been used for diagnosing the hip pathologies and is the earliest applications of MRI in diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders. MRI detects articular, extra articular and osseous pathologies in hip joint. Thus, is important in diagnosing the cases of chronic hip pain which indicates a long list of causes. MRI is also the investigation of choice for imaging avascular necrosis, radiographically occult fractures, marrow replacement disorders, musculoskeletal neoplasms, and various arthritides involving the hip joint.

Methods This study was done to assess the role of MRI in non-traumatic chronic hip joint pain in adult age group. The study included 54 patients with hip pain who were evaluated by plain radiograph and MRI.

Results Majority (42.59%) of the patients were from the age group of 31-50 years, majority of the patients, 36 were males (66.67%). Most common chief complaint was unilateral hip pain (79.6%), and most common pathology found was avascular necrosis in 27 cases (50%). There was no significant association between the age groups and AVN (p=0.582), while gender showed significant association with AVN (p=0.021). Plain radiograph was abnormal in 41 out of total 54 cases (75.93%). The accuracy of detecting etiology by MRI in current study was 96.2% as compared to plain radiograph was 75.9% in current study.

Conclusions Thus, MRI was seen to be more effective in diagnosing cases of painful hip joint where plain radiographs may be entirely normal.