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MR Imaging after Hip and Knee Replacement
Author(s) -
Koch Sebastian,
Forteza Alejandro,
Lavernia Carlos,
Romano Jose G.,
Campo Nelly,
Bhatia Rita,
CampoBustillo Iszet
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of neuroimaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1552-6569
pISSN - 1051-2284
DOI - 10.1111/j.1552-6569.2007.00157.x
Subject(s) - medicine , fluid attenuated inversion recovery , magnetic resonance imaging , orthopedic surgery , knee replacement , hip replacement , radiology , surgery , nuclear medicine
BACKGROUND Diffusion‐weighted (DW) imaging abnormalities often develop in patients after invasive procedures associated with cerebral microembolism. Cerebral microembolism has recently been shown during orthopedic surgery. We here examine the effects of intraoperative microembolism on acute magnetic resonance(MR) imaging in patients undergoing hip and knee replacement.METHODS We enrolled 24 patients, at least 65 years old, requiring elective knee or hip replacement surgery. MR with DW and axial fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging was performed pre‐ and postoperatively. All patients were monitored intraoperatively for microemboli.RESULTS The mean age of patients was 74 years. All patients had intraoperative microemboli. The mean number of emboli detected was 9.9 ± 18 per surgery. MR imaging was obtained a mean of 3.5 days postoperatively. No DW imaging abnormalities were found after surgery. One patient had new findings on postoperative FLAIR imaging.CONCLUSION Intraoperative microembolism occurred universally, but did not lead to acute DW imaging abnormalities following knee and hip replacement. Acute imaging abnormalities on FLAIR imaging are rare but may occasionally occur after joint surgery.