Magnetic resonance imaging findings in symptomatic versus symptomatic subjects following metal-on-metal hip resurfacing Arthroplasty

Danyal H. Nawabi, Catherine L. Hayter, Edwin P. Su, Matthew F. Koff, Giorgio Perino, Stephanie L. Gold, Mevin M. Koch, Hollis G. Potter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Although pseudotumors have been reported at the sites of well-functioning and painful metal-on-metal hip prostheses, there are no objective data on the magnitude of the adverse reaction. This observational study was performed to investigate the ability of modified magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect and quantify adverse synovial responses in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects following metal-on-metal hip resurfacing. We hypothesized that the magnitude of the synovial reactions would be greater in symptomatic patients. Methods: Sixty-nine patients (seventy-four hips) with hip resurfacing were divided into three groups: asymptomatic (twenty-two hips), symptomatic with a mechanical cause (twenty), and unexplained pain (thirty-two). The volume of synovitis was calculated on MRI for all patients. Results: Synovitis was detected in fifteen asymptomatic hips (68%), fifteen (75%) with symptoms with a mechanical causes, and twenty-five (78%) with unexplained pain. The mean volume (and standard deviation) of the synovitis in these groups was 5 ± 7 cm3, 10 ± 16 cm3, and 31 ± 47 cm3, respectively. The coefficient of repeatability between the examiners was 1.8 cm3 for measurement of synovitis. Of the thirteen subjects with revision arthroplasty, six had an adverse local tissue reaction. This subgroup had the highest volumes of synovitis on MRI. Conclusions: An adverse synovial reaction was detected on MRI in both symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. We found a larger volume of synovitis in symptomatic patients; this increase reached significance only in the group with an adverse local tissue reaction. Synovial volume on MRI may be a valuable marker in the longitudinal assessment of asymptomatic patients with a metal-on-metal hip resurfacing and in identifying patients with adverse local tissue reaction. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)895-902
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Bone and Joint Surgery
Volume95
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 May 2013
Externally publishedYes

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