General
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging technique that is particularly good at imaging soft tissue. In contrast to X-rays or computed tomography, however, the patient is not exposed to radiation. The images are created by means of magnetic fields and radio waves that align certain particles of the body in one direction.
When the magnetic field is switched off, the particles reorient themselves in their original orientation and the time until they reach this orientation is measured. The resulting images are then based on these measured values. On MRI images, especially soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, muscles and blood vessels can be easily recognized. Cartilage is also very clearly visible. The same applies to water or other fluids in the joint.
Basins
The pelvis or the hip joint occupies a central position in the human body, as it is exposed to a high load due to constant standing and walking. During many movements, it must bear many times the body weight and must also ensure a high degree of mobility. Due to this high load, the hip joint is often affected by injuries or shows signs of wear and tear that can be detected by MRI.
An MRI of the pelvis and an MRI of the hip is therefore an MRI of the same region. Depending on the problem, a special focus is placed on the pelvis or the right or left hip. Since the MRI examination provides much more detailed images than a simple X-ray, it not only serves to clarify bone fractures, but also to detect or exclude diseases of the soft tissues of the joint.
In addition to bone fractures, for example a fracture of the femoral neck, a dislocated hip (hip dislocation) can also be detected on the MRI of the hip. Injuries to the joint capsule, such as a rupture of the capsule from the so-called joint lip (labrum rupture) are also often well shown on the MRI images. Inflammations of muscles, ligaments or bursae can also be detected, as can tears in structures.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the hip also provides information on the progression of degenerative bone diseases such as hip arthrosis or femoral head necrosis. These can be diagnosed at an early stage due to the precise imaging. Other joints, such as the sacroiliac joint at the back of the hip, can also be checked for arthrosis by means of an MRI.
In contrast to X-rays, an MRI examination can also show water retention in the joint (edema). An MRI of the hip has a very high significance in the field of tumor diagnostics, in the hip area especially for the imaging of tumors in the femoral neck. In contrast to X-rays, an MRI examination can also show water retention in the joint (edema). An MRI of the hip has a very high significance in the field of tumor diagnostics, in the hip area especially for the imaging of tumors in the femoral neck.
