How to Report: Hip MRI

Writing a good magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hip report requires a sound understanding of hip anatomy, imaging, and related pathologies. The structures of the hip most prone to pathology are the articular surfaces, labrum, subchondral bone, and gluteal tendons. Particular attention should be paid to abnormal hip morphology that is relatively common and can manifest as internal or external hip derangement. It is essential to appreciate and report the specific features of each pathology that carry clinical significance to aid patient management. This article is aimed at trainee radiologists and those less experienced with reporting hip MRI, focusing on the essential features to comment on and providing examples of terminology to use and MR images to illustrate these features.

Does the Type of Sport Influence Morphology of the Hip? A Systematic Review

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has been extensively investigated and is strongly associated with athletic participation. Purpose: To assess (1) the prevalence of cam-type FAI across various sports; (2) whether kinematic variation among sports influences hip morphology; and (3) whether performance level, duration, and frequency of participation or other factors influence hip morphology in a sporting population. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A systematic search of Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library was undertaken following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Prospective and retrospective case series, case reports, and review articles published after 1999 were screened, and those that met the inclusion criteria decided a priori were included for analysis. Results: The literature search identified 58 relevant articles involving 5683 participants. A total of 49 articles described a higher prevalence of FAI across various “hip-heavy” sports, including soccer, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, skiing, golf, and ballet. In studies including nonathlete controls, a greater prevalence of FAI was reported in 66.7% of studies (n = 8/12). The highest alpha angle was identified at the 1-o’clock position (n = 9/9) in football, skiing, golf, ice hockey, and basketball. The maximum alpha angle was located in a more lateral position in goalkeepers versus positional players in ice hockey (1 vs 1:45 o’clock). A positive correlation was also identified between the alpha angle and both age and activity level (n = 5/8 and n = 2/3, respectively) and between prevalence of FAI and both age and activity level (n = 2/2 and n = 4/5). Conclusion: Hip-heavy sports show an increased prevalence of FAI, with specific sporting activities influencing hip morphology. There is some evidence to suggest that a longer duration and higher level of training also result in an increased prevalence of FAI. Registration: CRD4202018001 (PROSPERO).

Impaired Lower Extremity Biomechanics, Hip External Rotation Muscle Weakness, and Proximal Femoral Morphology Predict Impaired Single-Leg Squat Performance in People With FAI Syndrome

Background: Impairments in squat depth have been reported in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). However, little is known about single-leg squat (SLS) performance in these patients, despite this task being commonly used in the rehabilitation and training settings. Purpose/Hypothesis: The aims of this study were (1) to investigate whether patients with FAIS demonstrate differences in SLS performance compared with healthy controls and (2) to determine whether dynamic range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, hip morphologic measures, hip pain, and hip-specific function predict SLS performance in patients with FAIS. We hypothesized that patients with FAIS would demonstrate impaired SLS performance and that impaired hip biomechanics, muscle strength, and hip-specific function would predict squat performance in patients with FAIS. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Three-dimensional (3D) kinematic data were collected at 100 Hz using a 20-camera 3D motion capture system during 3 SLS trials in 34 patients with FAIS and 26 healthy controls. Isometric muscle strength was tested with a stationary handheld dynamometer in all participants. Squat performance was quantified by squat depth (in meters), and the biomechanical variables of dynamic ROM of the pelvis, the hip, the knee, and the ankle in all planes were calculated. In patients with FAIS, femoral and acetabular morphology were measured using radiographic alpha angles and lateral center-edge angles. Hip pain and hip-specific function were measured using the visual analog scale for pain and the Hip Outcome Score Activities of Daily Living subscale, respectively. Two-tailed independent-samples t tests were used to determine between-group differences for squat depth, dynamic ROM variables, and muscle strength. A hierarchical multiple linear regression (MLR) model was used to determine whether biomechanical variables, muscle strength, hip morphology measures, hip pain, and hip-specific function were predictors of squat depth. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Version 26. Results: There were no between-group differences in age (FAIS, 30.0 ± 7.0 years vs controls, 27.3 ± 7.0 years; P = .18) or body mass index (FAIS, 23.1 ± 2.8 vs controls, 22.6 ± 3.2; P = .51). Squat depth was less in patients with FAIS compared with healthy controls (FAIS, 0.24 ± 0.4 m vs controls, 0.29 ± 0.05 m; P < .001). In the sagittal plane, patients with FAIS demonstrated less dynamic ROM of the hip (FAIS, 67.8°± 12.4° vs controls, 79.2°± 12.5°; P = .001) and the knee (FAIS, 71.9°± 9.4° vs controls, 78.9°± 13.2°; P = .02) compared with controls. Patients with FAIS also demonstrated a less dynamic coronal plane pelvis ROM (FAIS, 11.3°± 5.0° vs controls, 14.4°± 6.7°; P = .044). Patients with FAIS had reduced hip muscle strength of the hip external rotator (FAIS, 1 ± 0.3 N/kg vs controls, 1.2 ± 0.3 N/kg; P = .034), hip internal rotator (FAIS, 0.8 ± 0.3 N/kg vs controls 1 ± 0.3 N/kg; P = .03), and hip flexor (FAIS, 4 ± 1.1 N/kg vs controls, 4.8 ± 1.2 N/kg; P = .013) muscle groups. The hierarchical MLR revealed that the dynamic ROM of the hip, the knee, and the pelvis, the hip external rotation muscle strength, and the femoral alpha angles were all significant predictors of squat performance, and the final MLR model explained 92.4% of the total variance in squat depth in patients with FAIS. Conclusion: Patients with FAIS demonstrate impaired SLS squat performance compared with healthy controls. This impaired squat performance is predominantly predicted by sagittal plane knee and hip biomechanics and hip external rotator strength, and less by frontal plane pelvic ROM and hip morphology in patients with FAIS. Clinical Relevance: Clinicians should focus treatment on improving dynamic ROM and hip external rotator muscle strength to improve squat performance; however, femoral morphology should also be considered in the treatment paradigm.

BORDERLINE ACETABULAR DYSPLASIA: THREE-DIMENSIONAL DEFORMITY PREDICTORS OF THE DIAGNOSIS OF SYMPTOMATIC INSTABILITY TREATED WITH PERIACETABULAR OSTEOTOMY

Introduction: Borderline acetabular dysplasia is classically defined as a lateral center edge angle (LCEA) of 20-25 degrees. The optimal treatment strategy in this patient group remains controversial, with some patients having primarily hip instability-based symptoms, while others have primarily impingement-based symptoms (non-instability). The purpose of the current study was to define the 3D characteristics on low-dose CT that differentiate patients with instability symptoms from those without instability in the setting of borderline acetabular dysplasia. Methods: Seventy consecutive hips with borderline acetabular dysplasia undergoing surgical treatment were included in the current study. All patients underwent low-dose pelvic CT with femoral version assessment for preoperative planning. CT measurements included alpha angle and radial acetabular coverage (RAC) at standardized clockface positions (9:00-posterior to 3:00-anterior), central and cranial acetabular version. RAC was assessed in three sectors (anterior, superior, and posterior) and defined (relative to published normative data) as normal (-1 SD, +1 SD), undercoverage (<-1 SD), or overcoverage (>+1 SD). Statistical analysis was performed to compare the CT characteristics of the symptomatic instability and non-instability groups. Results: Of the 70 hips, 62.9% had the diagnosis of symptomatic instability, while 37.1% had no instability symptoms. Hips with instability (compared to non-instability) had significantly lower alpha angle (maximal difference at 1:00 - 47.0° vs. 59.4°), increased femoral version (22.3° vs. 15.3°), and decreased radial acetabular coverage (maximal difference at 1:00 – 59.9% vs. 62.2%) (all p<0.001). Multivariate analysis identified femoral version (OR 1.1, p=0.02), alpha angle at 1:00 (OR 0.91, p=0.02), and RAC at 1:00 (OR 0.46, p=0.003) as independent predictors of the presence of instability. The model combining these three factors had excellent predictive probability with a c-statistic 0.92. Conclusion: We found significant differences in the 3D hip morphology of the symptomatic instability and non-instability subgroups within the borderline dysplasia cohort. In the setting of borderline dysplasia, three-dimensional deformity characterization with low-dose CT allowed for differentiation of patients diagnosed with underlying instability vs. non-instability. Femoral version, alpha angle at 1:00, and radial acetabular coverage at 1:00 were identified as independent predictors of diagnosis in borderline acetabular dysplasia. Summary: This study attempts to define 3D CT characteristics to help distinguish between patients with impingement-based vs instability-based symptoms of borderline acetabular dysplasia.

Analysis of morphological parameters in pelvic radiography and hip MRI : a practical reporting recommendation

Although numerous criteria have been proposed to define abnormal hip morphology, mostly used in the diagnosis of femoroacetabular impingement, it is not a practical approach to measure all of these parameters in all cases without clinical suspicion. In this study, our aim was to develop an evaluating and reporting standardization for routine hip examinations to define both hip morphology and impingement. A total of 108 patients with routine hip magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and antero-posterior pelvic radiograph (PR) were included in this retrospective study. Alpha angle (AA), acetabular depth (AD), acetabular protrusion, acetabular anteversion, collo- diaphyseal angle (CDA), lateral center-edge angle (LCEA) and Tönnis angle (TA) were measured. The differences and associations between these parameters were evaluated according to imaging modality or plane, and sex. Although a significant difference has been found between the axial AA and the coronal AA mean values measured on MRI, there was also a strong correlation. Coronal measurements were significantly higher. AA values measured in PR and coronal MRI were comparable. Males had higher AA in both planes as compared to females. There were no significant differences between CDA values in MRI and PR. There was a significant difference and a moderate correlation between AD values in MRI and PR. We suggest that routine reports should include a measurement of AA in two planes, and measurement of CDA in PR or MRI. Due to the difference in AD between MRI and radiography, LCEA or TA may represent better alternatives. Checking for a negative Tönnis sign would represent a practical approach.