Obligatory medical device diagnostics.
- Radiographs of the hip – pelvic overview (bilateral findings?)Note: In one study, only 9.1% of symptomatic patients with hip symptoms had appropriate radiographic findings. Radiographic osteoarthritis is often a late finding.
Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, laboratory diagnostics and obligatory medical device diagnostics – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Computed tomography (CT; sectional imaging procedure (X-ray images from different directions with computer-based evaluation), particularly well suited for the depiction of bony injuries) of the affected joint – findings correspond to the X-ray images, but earlier depiction of changes possible; better depiction of complex structures.
Kellgren and Lawrence score
| Grade | Assessment | Findings |
| 0 | normal | No radiological signs of coxarthrosis |
| 1 | Suspicion of coxarthrosis | Small osteophytes, unclear relevance |
| 2 | minor coxarthrosis | Osteophytes; joint space normal |
| 3 | moderate coxarthrosis | slight joint space narrowing |
| 4 | severe coxarthrosis | marked joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis |
Interpretation
- Findings greater than grade 2 are usually diagnosed as coxarthrosis.
Because evidence of osteophytes does not necessarily correlate with the clinical presentation of coxarthrosis, the Kellgren and Lawrence classification is not without controversy.
