A Blog for Healthcare Consumers

MRI scans are frequently used to evaluate the internal structures of the hip joints. A variety of trends have increased the use of MRI in evaluating joints - more sports activity, increase in obesity rates, and we've remained much more active into our later years than previous generations.

If you've injured your hips or have chronic hip pain, your doctor will probably first order an x-ray. After an x-ray, an MRI may be needed to evaluate the internal structures of the hip. On your doctor's order for the MRI you might see:

"r/o internal derangement" -  internal derangement is a general term referring to any type of injury/damage to the internal structures of the hip. The labrum (a ring of cartilage in the hip joint) can be torn or frayed, causing pain or clicking.

"r/o fracture"- some hip fractures are not seen on x-rays and may only show up on an MRI. MRI is very good at picking up "edema" or swelling in the bone.

"r/o djd" - djd is short for degenerative joint disease. These are changes in the bone, labrum, and cartilage of the hip that can occur as we age or after an old injury to the hip.

(FYI - "r/o" is short for "rule out")

An MRI of the hips will evaluate:

Bones

A hip MRI will include parts of the upper femur, acetabulum (groove for the femur in the pelvis) and nearby pelvic bones. The hip MRI can detect bone bruises, fractures, cysts, tumors, infection and dislocations. An MRI can also determine the extent of arthritis and help in pre-operative planning.

Cartilage

Hip MRIs are very good at looking at the cartilage and labrum (a ring of cartilage) in your hips. MRI can detect fraying (like frayed edges of jeans), fissuring (cracks, similar to a dry river bed), and defects (the cartilage is missing). Damaged cartilage or injury to the labrum can lead to arthritis. Some hip MRIs are done with a direct injection of contrast material into the joint to get a detailed look at the cartilage and labrum.

Tendons and Ligaments

Your hip has many nearby tendons and ligaments that help with motion and stabilize the joint. Any of these can be injured and may only be detected on MRI.

Soft Tissues

This refers to the muscles and tissues around your hips. A hip MRI scan will show parts of the thigh muscles and muscles of the buttocks area. MRI can detect muscle tears, strains, tumors and infection.

Your Hip MRI Scan

A standard hip MRI generally takes about 20 minutes or so to complete. If you are going for one, wear loose comfortable clothing and remember to remove all metal (jewelry, phones, rings, etc) before going into the MRI scan room. If you're insured, you may need to have your test authorized (approved) by your insurance company first. If you're uninsured and need to look up prices and buy an MRI scan of the hip, you can use our website. Click here to see MRI scan costs.

Have you had a Hip MRI scan? What was it like? Please leave your comments below.