RadteraMRI Hip Without Contrast
MRNo contrastMSK
Indications
- Hip pain
- Occult / stress fracture
- Avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis)
- Labral tear / FAI (consider arthrogram)
- Transient osteoporosis
- Mass / infection
Patient prep
- MRI safety screening
- Body/torso array or surface coil
- Feet slightly internally rotated; consider both hips (pelvis) for AVN/fracture screen
Contrast
None / non-contrast
Technique
- Supine; for AVN or occult fracture, image both hips with large FOV pelvis coverage
- For labral/FAI evaluation, small-FOV targeted single-hip with thin slices (and often arthrogram + radial sequences)
- Combine T1 (anatomy/marrow) and fluid-sensitive fat-sat/STIR
Series / Sequences
| # | Series / Sequence | Plane | Weighting / Recon | Thickness | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cor T1 (pelvis) | coronal | T1 | 3-5 mm | Marrow, AVN line, fracture |
| 2 | Cor STIR / T2 fat-sat | coronal | STIR | 3-5 mm | Edema, fracture, AVN |
| 3 | Ax T1 or PD | axial | T1/PD | 4 mm | |
| 4 | Ax T2 fat-sat | axial | T2 FS | 4 mm | Effusion, soft tissue |
| 5 | Sag T2 fat-sat (targeted) | sagittal | T2 FS | 3-4 mm | Targeted single hip |
| 6 | Oblique axial (FAI) | oblique axial | PD | 3 mm | Alpha angle, cam morphology if FAI |
Key points
- For AVN or occult fracture, scan both hips (coronal T1 + STIR) with large FOV.
- Labral tears: targeted small-FOV high-res or MR arthrogram; assess for cam/pincer FAI.
- STIR/T2 FS detects stress fracture, transient osteoporosis, and marrow edema early when radiographs normal.
- Measure alpha angle for cam impingement.
References
• ACR-SSR Practice Parameter for MRI of the Hip
• Radiopaedia: Hip MRI protocol link
• ACR Appropriateness Criteria: Chronic Hip Pain
• Radiopaedia: Hip MRI protocol link
• ACR Appropriateness Criteria: Chronic Hip Pain
Source: Researched — verify against your institution
Reference template — verify and adapt to your scanner, vendor and institution before clinical use. Not a substitute for clinical judgment.