TITLE:
Coverage of Femoral Head at Weight-Bearing Interface of the Hip Joint in Children: An MRI Analysis
AUTHORS:
Si-Hui Zeng, Hong-Sheng Liu, Hong-Wen Xu, Yuan-Kai Chen, Ding-Qiang Miao, Li-Yi Nie
KEYWORDS:
Magnetic Resonance; Hip Joint; Weight-Bearing; Children; Coverage of the Femoral Head
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Medical Imaging,
Vol.3 No.2,
June
3,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Objective: To analyze the features of coverage of femoral head at
weight-bearing interface of the hip joints in children. Material and Methods: MRI scans of the hips were performed in 95
normal children aged from 1 to 8 years. Radial scans of the hip joints were
performed using FFE sequence. Review the morphological features of
weight-bearing interface of the acetabulum and the femoral head. Total covering
angle (TCA), acetabular covering angle (ACA) and labral covering angle (LCA)
were measured, inter-group comparison and correlation analysis were done. Result: The acetabulum and the femoral
head had congruent articulating surface at each weight-bearing position. There
was no statistical TCA difference at each position. Average ACA increased,
while average LCA decreased from anterior to posterior. TCA correlated with
LCA, ACA negatively correlated with LCA. Conclusion:
TCA is a good index in indicating stability of the hip joint. Cartilage
ossifies slower at posterior than anterior positions. Cartilage acetabulum and
the labrum serve as complementary structures that contribute in total stabilizing
of the hip joint in development.