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Characteristic features of the acetabular labrum in healthy children
Insights
This study reveals age-related changes in the pediatric acetabular labrum using magnetic resonance imaging. Younger children exhibit distinct labral shapes and internal high-intensity areas, which become less common with age.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Orthopedic Imaging
- Hip Anatomy
Background:
- The acetabular labrum is crucial for hip joint stability and function.
- Understanding normal pediatric labral development is essential for diagnosing hip abnormalities.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides detailed visualization of soft tissues like the labrum.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the normal appearance of the pediatric acetabular labrum using radial MRI.
- To identify age-related morphologic and signal intensity variations in the pediatric labrum.
- To establish imaging standards for healthy children's hip joints.
Main Methods:
- Radial MRI scans of the acetabular labrum were acquired in 40 healthy children.
- Image analysis focused on labral shape, internal signal intensity, and size relative to the femoral head.
- Data were stratified by age groups (≤11 years vs. 12-13 years) and analyzed for sex and side differences.
Main Results:
- No significant right-left or male-female differences were observed in labral morphology.
- In children ≤11 years, the antero-superior labrum was triangular with internal high-intensity areas; the mid-superior was triangular with low intensity; the postero-superior was flat.
- In children aged 12-13 years, the antero-superior high-intensity area appeared less frequently, and the labrum was relatively larger in younger children.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric acetabular labral morphology and signal intensity demonstrate age-dependent changes observable via radial MRI.
- The presence of internal high-intensity areas in the antero-superior labrum is common in younger children but decreases with age.
- These findings contribute to the normative imaging database for pediatric hip development.
Abstract:
Radial magnetic resonance images of the acetabular labrum were obtained on 40 hips of healthy children. There were no right-left or male-female differences. In children aged 11 years or younger, the labrum on the antero-superior weightbearing portion was triangular in shape, and there was an insular-shaped or linear high-intensity area inside; on the mid-superior portion, the labrum appeared as a regular triangular, low-intensity area; and on the postero-superior portion, it was flat. In children aged 12 and 13 years, the shape of the labrum in each portion was similar to that of the younger children, but the high signal intensity area on the antero-superior portion appeared less frequently. The size of the labrum relative to the femoral head was greater in younger children.