Focal hip chondrolabral separation

Case contributed by Dai Roberts
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Hip pain, worse on deep hip flexion.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Female

MRI arthrogram

mri

MRI hip arthrogram and image guided injection.  Evidence of a fluid cleft at the anterosuperior chondrolabral junction which extends across its entire thickness in keeping with tear/ focal detachment.

Annotated image

mri

The arrow points to the fluid cleft at the anterosuperior chondrolabral junction and extends across its entire thickness in keeping with a tear.

Case Discussion

MRI arthrograms can assess the hip joint include articular cartilage and labrum, and surrounding periarticular tendons and musculature.  

The arthrogram injectate should contain a longer acting local anesthetic and the patient advised to keep a pain diary.  Labral tears are common even in asymptomatic individuals, so combing the outcome of the injection and MRI will help clarify certain findings.  

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