Hip joint, x-ray: features, advantages and disadvantages

Many people of different ages may have hip joint disease, leading to disruption in walking and support function. This pathological condition greatly affects the quality of life of a person and often leads to disability.

To identify diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the doctor can prescribe a radiograph of the hip joint, which is a radiation diagnosis, which allows to obtain a negative image of the affected area on the photosensitive layer of a special film. Thanks to the modern device it is possible to get the most accurate image on both digital media and on the monitor.

Advantages and disadvantages

X-ray of the hip joint, like any other method of diagnosis, has certain advantages. These include simplicity and accessibility, as well as low cost of the procedure. In some cases, such a survey can be conducted free of charge. If you have an X-ray on your hands , you can seek advice from any specialist, and the doctor will follow the dynamics of the disease during the re-examination.

Radiography also has disadvantages:

• Exposure to the body of X-rays, albeit in small doses;
• The inability to fully assess the function of the joint;
• The area under investigation is often overlapped by surrounding tissues, as a result of which images are superimposed on each other;
• Without special contrasting, it is not possible to assess the condition of soft tissues;
• A little informative.

Indications and contraindications

If the hip is aching, X-rays are carried out to establish the cause of this. Such a study is considered mandatory in many diseases of the musculoskeletal system. With the help of radiography, there are changes in the hip joint that can be caused by the following reasons:

• Trauma (dislocations, fractures);
• Degenerative pathology (cystic restructuring, osteoarthritis, aseptic necrosis) ;
• Bone tumor, metastasis;
• Inflammatory diseases (osteomyelitis, arthritis);
• Congenital anomalies (hypoplasia, dysplasia);
• Metabolic diseases (gout, osteoporosis).

Absolute contraindication for conducting such a survey is pregnancy at any time, as well as thyroid, kidney, and heart diseases. If there are no compelling reasons, it is better not to perform radiography for children under 14 years of age. If such a procedure is performed using a contrast drug, then the list of contraindications will be much wider. It includes the following states of the body:

• Severe pathological condition of the liver and kidneys;
• Tuberculosis in the active phase;
• Allergy to substances containing iodine;
• Cardiovascular failure;
• A serious condition of the patient.

X-ray examination

If the hip is concerned, the x-ray of the affected area is mandatory. This procedure is distinguished by its relative simplicity. After the patient receives a referral for the examination, he should correctly prepare for it so that the result is of the highest quality.

Preparation

If it is necessary to do an x-ray of the hip joint, usually no special preparation is required, but nevertheless it is worth paying attention to certain points.

Since the area under investigation is close enough to the intestine, its contents can affect the quality of the image. In particular, this concerns the process of gas formation. To remove the contents of the intestine is recommended on the eve of the study in the evening and the next morning to carry out a cleansing enema. You can also drink any laxative before the procedure.

If the X-ray is to be carried out with a contrast agent, then a test should be carried out in advance to determine the allergic reaction. To proceed with a negative result.

Features

Before the procedure, the patient removes dense clothing, all ornaments and objects made of metal, because because of them, noise will appear on the pictures. To examine the hip joint, the X-ray is performed in several projections. Before inspection on the patient wear protective lead plates.

To get a picture of the pelvic region, the device sends a beam of rays passing through the hip joint. At this time, the radiation begins to dissipate and stops, and the degree of such scattering depends on the density of the test tissue. At the same time, an image of organs and tissues begins to appear on the film, through which radiation has already passed. The photo clearly shows the bone, which has the maximum density. The doctor-radiologist on the X-ray placed on the luminous screen can give an assessment of the internal structure of the joint.

Research of such a site is usually conducted:

• Front with legs diluted to the sides;
• On the side with elongated legs.

If the x-ray of the hip joint is performed, the norm is when the photos are taken in both projections. This allows you to establish the most accurate diagnosis. The procedure lasts about 10 minutes, while the patient receives a dose of 1.5 millisieverts.

Explanation of X-ray images

Radiography can have certain errors. This is due to the fact that the X-rays, which are sent by the cathode-ray tube, diverge by the flow. If the subject of the study is not in the middle, but on the edge of the field of the image, the image may be slightly elongated. In this case, the dimensions of the joints being examined are also modified.

The accuracy of the diagnosis depends largely on how qualified the laboratory technician is. Each disease has its own characteristics, which are revealed in the pictures:

• Fractures - visible bone fragments;
• Dislocations - you can see the displacement of the articular surfaces;
• Osteoarthritis - narrowing of the joint gap, osteophytes;
• Aseptic necrosis - bone regeneration, foci of osteosclerosis;
• Osteoporosis - clearly visible thinned structure, decreased bone density;
• Dysplasia - reveals incomplete or incorrect development of the femoral head together with the articular cavity;
• Tumors - foci of darkening, volumetric formations.

Radiography for children

X-rays of the hip joints in children are performed only strictly according to the doctor's indications, since such a procedure is considered harmful and further hematological pathologies may occur or a change in the oncology profile may occur. Therefore, it is extremely important to find a good specialist who will prescribe the study with the smallest dose of radiation, as a result of which the harmful effect on the small patient will be minimal.

X-ray of the hip joint in the baby is better not to do. The doctor usually assigns ultrasound for these purposes to children who are not yet a year old. Since in babies for up to three months the muscles are still atrophied, it is difficult to diagnose such a pathology as dysplasia of the hip joints. In this case, the X-ray can not help. It is advisable to conduct it when the cartilage is filled with calcium and turn into bone tissue.

Conclusion

Thus, if the hip is damaged, the X-ray is mandatory to determine the exact cause of the disease. Since such a procedure is not considered safe, it should not be passed more than once every six months. If it is necessary to carry it out to young children, the doctor should minimize the possible harm from exposure.