Radiological examination of the hip - clinical indications, methods, and interpretation: a clinical commentary

There is a growing interest in musculoskeletal rehabilitation for young active individuals with non-arthritic hip pathology. History and physical examination can be useful to classify those with non-arthritic intra-articular hip pathology as having impingement or instability. However, the specific type of deformity leading to symptoms may not be apparent from this evaluation, which may compromise the clinical decision-making. Several radiological indexes have been described in the literature for individuals with non-arthritic hip pathology. These indexes identify and quantify acetabular and femoral deformities that may contribute to instability and impingement. The aim of this paper is to discuss clinical indications, methods, and the use of hip radiological images or radiology reports as they relate to physical examination findings for those with non-arthritic hip pathology.

Level of evidence: 5.