Pruebas de imagen y evaluación de la patología articular y periarticular de la cadera

Imaging techniques are frequently used in the diagnosis and management of patients with hip pain prior to arthroscopy. In recent years the capabilities of imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have expanded. At present, imaging techniques help to confirm a suspected diagnoses, to exclude other potential source of intra-articular or peri-articular hip pain, and to provide the hip surgeon with a pre-operative map. They also assess difficult to see areas during hip arthroscopy, and therefore may be used for clinical decision-making.

Plain radiographs are usually the first step in the imaging management. Ultrasound can be used in the assessment of extra-articular disease and, along with CT, it can be used to guide intra-muscular and peri-neural injections, or to perform joint fluid aspiration. Three-dimensional CT reconstruction of the hip and pelvis offers a global view of hip-bone anatomy, and is often used for pre-operative planning. Recent developments in hardware and software have increased the potential use of MRI in the current diagnosis of hip disorders with increasingly accuracy.

In this article, the current role of imaging techniques in the diagnosis of hip joint disorders and surrounding soft tissues is described.