MR imaging of 22 Charnley-Müller total hip prostheses

To find out whether MR imaging is contraindicated in patients with metallic implants or can be a routine diagnostic procedure, MR investigations in 18 patients with 22 Charnley-Müller total hip prostheses were performed on a 0.5 T Gyroscan S 5, Philips. No adverse reactions during or post MR investigation were encountered. The imaging of the soft tissue was superior to CT and showed less distortion. The diagnosis of loosening, by detection of demarcation lines at the interfaces was at its best in the distal part of the femoral stem prosthesis and was poor in the acetabular component and in the upper part of the stem prosthesis due to artifacts.