Early osteonecrosis of the femoral head: detection in high-risk patients with MR imaging

To determine whether magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can demonstrate the early stages of osteonecrosis that are not detectable radiographically, the authors compared radiologic findings with histologic results in seven patients at high risk for osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Radiography and MR imaging were performed, and proximal femoral intramedullary pressures were measured in all patients, even if results from imaging studies were normal. If the pressures were elevated, core decompression with biopsy was performed. Seven patients had elevated pressures in 11 hips. Of 11 hips from which biopsy specimens were taken, all had histologic evidence of osteonecrosis. However, in only five were the MR imaging findings consistent with osteonecrosis. In the remaining six hips with osteonecrosis, MR imaging findings were normal. Sensitivity of MR imaging in detection of osteonecrosis was 46%. The authors conclude that normal MR imaging results in high-risk patients do not rule out the presence of osteonecrosis.