Musculoskeletal ultrasound: applications in the hip.
This article illustrates how ultrasound (US) can be useful in the evaluation of painful hips. For an experienced examiner using high quality equipment, US is the imaging test of choice for tendon abnormalities, hernias, bursitis, and dynamic abnormalities such as extra-articular snapping  hip. Ultrasound is also useful in screening for hip effusions and guiding diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Ultrasound has a complementary role to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for labral pathology, although MRI or MR arthrography is preferable for most intra-articular pathologies.  It is better tolerated, less expensive, and more readily available than MRI, and as US technology continues to improve, its role in hip imaging should grow.
Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-5244, USA. levon.nazarian@jefferson.edu
Levon N
LN
Nazarian
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003615:Dancing / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006119:Groin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D025981:Hip Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult