Technical innovation: digital tomosynthesis of the hip following intra-articular administration of contrast.

Abstract

To demonstrate the clinical use of digital tomosynthesis in the depiction of labral and chondral pathology in the setting of post-operative CAM-type impingement of the hip following intra-articular administration of dilute iodinated contrast. We present images from a 46 year-old African American female with suspected CAM-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) following percutaneous pinning of the right hip for slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). A partial tear of the labrum and clinically significant acetabular chondral abnormalities were demonstrated with the use of digital tomosynthesis with superb anatomic detail. Digital tomosynthesis can be of great clinical utility and can depict pathology in superb anatomic detail, particularly in situations in which MRI is not available as well as under circumstances in which artifact due to orthopedic hardware is of concern as shown in this case.