Comparison of CT and MRI in diagnosing occult hip fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting occult hip fractures.

We conducted a systematic literature review and identified 12 articles involving 1,819 participants for inclusion. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. Publication bias was assessed with the Deek funnel plot asymmetry test. We conducted a meta-analysis using a random-effects model to derive pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and the diagnostic odds ratio, along with their 95% confidence intervals. A summary receiver operating characteristic curve was generated to illustrate the overall diagnostic accuracy.

The methodological quality of the included studies was high, with minimal concerns about the applicability of the tests in clinical settings. Both CT and MRI showed good diagnostic efficacy for occult hip fractures. However, MRI consistently outperformed CT, exhibiting significantly higher sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios, thereby providing superior accuracy in confirming or excluding occult fractures. Meta-regression analysis revealed that sequence parameters and sample size significantly influenced the differences in sensitivity and specificity between CT and MRI.

Both CT and MRI are effective modalities for detecting occult hip fractures, with MRI demonstrating greater diagnostic accuracy. This meta-analysis supports the use of MRI when higher sensitivity and specificity are required in clinical practice.