Hip MRI (Bilateral)

MRI of both hip joints in a single session. Evaluates labral tears, cartilage damage, avascular necrosis, and femoroacetabular impingement.

The bilateral hip MRI provides imaging of both hip joints, including the femoral heads, acetabula, labra, articular cartilage, surrounding tendons, and bursae. Bilateral imaging is standard for hip MRI as it allows direct comparison between sides and captures conditions that often affect both joints (such as avascular necrosis and inflammatory arthritis). The protocol includes coronal and axial T1 and T2-weighted sequences covering both hips, with sagittal oblique images aligned to each femoral neck for labral assessment. STIR sequences detect bone marrow oedema, which is the earliest sign of avascular necrosis and stress fractures. The radiologist evaluates the labrum for tears and degeneration, articular cartilage for defects, femoral head morphology for cam lesions, and acetabular morphology for pincer deformity — the components of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome. Common indications include groin pain in active adults (suspected FAI or labral tear), hip pain in older adults (early avascular necrosis, occult fracture), and inflammatory arthritis assessment. Bilateral imaging is also essential for pre-surgical planning in hip preservation surgery.