Premium
Sonography of the Acetabular Labrum
Author(s) -
Sofka Carolyn M.,
Adler Ronald S.,
Da Martha A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.2006.25.10.1321
Subject(s) - medicine , labrum , acetabular labrum , magnetic resonance imaging , anatomy , radiology , tears , arthroscopy , surgery
Objective. The purpose of this series was to describe the improved conspicuity in the sonographic appearance of acetabular labral injuries during routine sonographically guided intra‐articular injections. Methods. Sonographic examinations of patients undergoing routine sonographically guided intra‐articular hip injections were reviewed for evidence of labral injuries (n = 21). Sonographic examinations were then correlated with magnetic resonance images of the ipsilateral hip when available (n = 14). Results. Before injection, 13 acetabular labra had linear or irregular hypoechoic clefts or fissures through the normally hyperechoic fibrocartilaginous labrum, thought to represent tears. Eight of the labra showed a more globular alteration in morphologic characteristics, with diffuse thickening and irregularity. During intra‐articular injection, the visualized injected fluid outlined the labrum, yielding a “sonoarthrographic effect,” providing a fluid interface along the labral boundaries, and confirming the presence of a tear by imbibition of injected material into the defect with a resultant subjective improvement in the labral injury. Conclusions. Evaluating the labrum after injection may improve visualization of labral injuries, as a result of greater labral conspicuity.