Is hip capsule morphology associated with hip pain in patients without another structural correlate?

ConclusionsPatients with hip pain are more likely to have thicker posterior capsules and a lower ratio of the anterior-to-posterior capsule area and thinner medial anterior capsules with a lower ratio of the medial-to-lateral anterior hip capsule compartment, compared with controls.Clinical relevance statementDuring MRI evaluations of patients with hip pain, morphology of the hip capsule should be assessed. This study aims to be a foundation for future analyses to identify thresholds distinguishing normal from abnormal hip capsule measurements.Key Points• Even with modern image modalities such as MRI, one of the biggest challenges in handling hip pain patients is finding a structural link for their pain.• Hip capsule morphologies that correlated with hip pain showed a larger posterior hip capsule area and a lower anterior-to-posterior capsule area ratio, as well as a smaller medial anterior capsule area with a lower medial-to-lateral anterior hip capsule ratio.• The hip capsule morphology is correlated with hip pain in patients who do not show other morphology abnormalities in MRI and should get more attention in clinical practice.

Source: European Radiology - January 3, 2024 Category: Radiology Source Type: research