Ara Kassarjian MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Luke Sung-Wook Yoon BS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Etienne Belzile MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

William Ewing Palmer MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Femoro-acetabular impingement is a recently recognized cause of early onset osteoarthritis in otherwise normal hips. This study was undertaken to investigate and describe the constellation of MR arthrographic findings of femoro-acetabular impingement.

All hip MR arthrograms performed over the course of 3 years were reviewed by 2 musculoskeletal radiologists. Quantitative assessment of femoral head and neck morphology was performed to assess for osseous protuberance. Presence and type of labral abnormalities and articular cartilage abnormalities were recorded. Clinical and surgical correlation was performed.

After exclusion of patients with prior surgery, fractures, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease and/or slipped capital femoral epiphysis, 44 cases of femoro-acetabular impingement were identified. 27 cases demonstrated osseous abnormalities of the anterior superior femoral head-neck junction. 41 cases demonstrated tears or degeneration of the anterior superior labrum. 36 cases demonstrated anterior superior cartilage abnormalities. 25 patients manifested a characteristic triad of anterior hip osseous protuberance, anterior superior labral abnormality, and anterior superior cartilage abnormality.

MR arthrography clearly delineates a typical triad of abnormalities in cases of femoro-acetabular impingement. A careful search for this triad should be performed when one encounters early osteoarthritis in an otherwise normal hip.

Kassarjian, A, Yoon, L, Belzile, E, Palmer, W, MR Arthrographic Findings of Femoro-Acetabular Impingement.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4407842.html