Beyond the Hip Labrum: A Pictorial Review

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) and 3T MRI are common for hip pain in young, active patients.
• Focus is often on labral tears and femoroacetabular impingement.
• Labral tears can be incidental findings in asymptomatic individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review common extralabral pathologies causing hip pain in young patients.
• To emphasize the importance of identifying extralabral conditions alongside labral tears.
• To highlight key diagnostic areas for these pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Review of common extralabral pathologies causing hip pain.
• Discussion of imaging findings and diagnostic considerations.
• Focus on conditions beyond labral tears and femoroacetabular impingement.

Main Results:

• Extralabral conditions involving bones, joints, and soft tissues frequently cause hip pain.
• Abnormal labral signals can be misleading due to high prevalence in asymptomatic individuals.
• Awareness of extralaboral pathologies is vital for accurate diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Radiologists must evaluate for a range of extralabral pathologies in young patients with hip pain.
• Comprehensive assessment is necessary, even when labral tears are present.
• Understanding extralabral conditions improves diagnostic accuracy and patient management.