Hip MRI

Diagnostic MRI of the hip joint assessing the labrum, articular cartilage, femoral head, acetabulum, and surrounding soft tissues. The scan evaluates internal joint pathology including labral tears, cartilage damage, avascular necrosis, and femoroacetabular impingement — conditions that are often difficult to diagnose with X-ray alone.

The hip MRI at MRI Centrum provides detailed imaging of the hip joint's complex anatomy. The acetabular labrum — a ring of fibrocartilage that deepens the hip socket and seals the joint — is a common site of pathology in both athletes and the general population. Labral tears are a frequent cause of groin pain and mechanical symptoms such as clicking or catching, and MRI is the primary imaging modality for their detection. The scan also evaluates the articular cartilage of both the femoral head and acetabulum for thinning, delamination, or focal defects. Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) — where abnormal bony morphology of the femoral head (cam type) or acetabulum (pincer type) causes premature contact during hip flexion — is assessed through dedicated imaging planes. The surrounding tendons (gluteal tendons, iliopsoas) and bursae are also included. A critical application of hip MRI is the early detection of avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis) of the femoral head, where MRI can identify marrow changes months before they become apparent on X-ray. Early detection enables intervention before femoral head collapse. The scan takes approximately 25-35 minutes using a dedicated coil and multiplanar acquisition.