Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, laboratory diagnostics, and obligatory medical device diagnostics – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Radiographs of the hip joint and lumbar spine (LS) (in 2 planes) – to exclude or detect: Positional abnormalities, dysplasias, inflammatory, degenerative, tumorous and traumatic processes in the lumbar spine, hip joints and bony pelvis.
- Computed tomography (CT; sectional imaging method (X-ray images from different directions with computer-based evaluation), particularly well suited to the representation of bony injuries) of the hip joint – in V.a. femoral head necrosis or a labrum lesion (tear of the joint lip / labrum); spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal); suspected tumor.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; computer-assisted cross-sectional imaging method (using magnetic fields, i.e., without X-rays); particularly well suited for imaging soft tissue injuries) of the hip joint – in V.a. femoral head necrosis or a labral lesion (tear of the joint lip/labral); spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal); suspected tumor.
- Scintigraphy of the hip region – exclusion of an inflammatory or tumorous process.
- Sonography (ultrasound) – in case of suspected muscle injury; clarification of a soft groin/inguinal hernia (inguinal hernia; Valsalva maneuver); infantile hip pain (infancy and early childhood: sonography is the method of choice).
- X-ray of the pelvis (pelvic overview as a flamingo image (one-legged stance) – to detect symphysis instability.
Further notes
- Hip osteoarthritis: in one study, only 9.1% of symptomatic patients with hip symptoms had appropriate radiographic findings. Radiographic osteoarthritis is often a late finding.
