Comparison of MR arthrography with arthroscopy of the hip for the assessment of intra-articular loose bodies.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the specificity and sensitivity of MR arthrography of the hip in comparison with arthroscopy for the evaluation of intra-articular loose bodies.


METHODS
Over a 3-year period, 81 consecutive patients underwent a total of 82 hip arthroscopies by a single orthopedic surgeon for intractable hip pain. Of the 82 arthroscopies, 70 had pre-operative MR arthrograms. Of these, 57 were available for retrospective review, after which they were compared with the operative notes of the subsequent arthroscopies.


RESULTS
Of 82 arthroscopies 16 (20%) demonstrated intra-articular loose bodies, while, in the study group, nine of 57 had loose bodies (16%). There was a total of seven discordant cases (five false negatives and two false positives). The sensitivity of MR arthrography for detection of intra-articular loose bodies was 44%, while the specificity was 96%.


CONCLUSIONS
While the specificity of MR arthrography for the detection of intra-articular loose bodies was high (96%), the sensitivity was not nearly as good (44%).
Neckers
Andrew C
AC
Columbus Radiology Corporation, 471 E. Broad St., Suite 1500, Columbus, OH 43215, USA. acneckers@yahoo.com
Polster
Joshua M
JM
Winalski
Carl S
CS
Krebs
Viktor E
VE
Sundaram
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001175:Arthrography / Q000379:methods*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007594:Joint Loose Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity