Extract
The outcome of joint-preserving procedures for the treatment of hip
osteonecrosis1,2
and acetabular
dysplasia3 has been
related to the quality of the acetabular cartilage at the time of the
operative
intervention4-7.
An ability to evaluate the condition of the acetabular cartilage prior to
surgical intervention could improve the predictability of the results of
joint-preserving procedures. To accomplish this goal, some have advocated the
use of hip
arthroscopy8-10.
However, this method relies on visual inspection of the articular surface and
probing it to find abnormalities in texture or hidden defects within the
midsubstance of the tissue. Less-invasive diagnostic measures, such as
magnetic resonance imaging, would be
preferable11.