Abstract
Articular cartilage assessment in femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is challenging. Recent studies on T2* relaxation time mapping suggest the technique may be useful in diagnosing cartilage damage. The purpose of this case report is to describe how quantitative T2*-mapping may improve cartilage assessment of the acetabulum in patients with FAI. MR arthrography was performed at 3 Tesla (T) using intra-articular Gadolinium and a T2* mapping protocol. Data from the acetabular cartilage was separated from femoral head cartilage data and then superimposed on a flattened, map projection representation of the patient's acetabulum. The areas of unhealthy cartilage observed at the time of arthroscopy - including debonding and delamination - were seen preoperatively at the same anatomic locations as areas of decreased T2* values. T2* mapping values provided a non-invasive assessment of the acetabular articular cartilage. A flattened acetabular map projection allowed for anatomic visualization of areas of unhealthy cartilage. Level of evidence: Level IV.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 971-973 |
Journal | Orthopaedics & Traumatology-Surgery & Research |
Volume | 100 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2014 |
Keywords
- Hip
- FAI
- MRI
- T2*-mapping
- Cartilage
- Arthroscopy