ACR Appropriateness Criteria ® Chronic Hip Pain

Canadian Association of Radiologists Musculoskeletal System Diagnostic Imaging Referral Guideline

The Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) Musculoskeletal System Expert Panel consists of musculoskeletal radiologists, a family physician, a sports and exercise medicine physician, emergency medicine physicians, a patient advisor, and an epidemiologist/guideline methodologist. After developing a list of 25 musculoskeletal clinical/diagnostic scenarios, a systematic rapid scoping review was undertaken to identify systematically produced referral guidelines that provide recommendations for 1 or more of these clinical/diagnostic scenarios. Recommendations from 41 guidelines (50 publications) and contextualization criteria in the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) for guidelines framework were used to develop 124 recommendation statements across the 25 scenarios related to the evaluation of the musculoskeletal system. This guideline presents the methods of development and the recommendations for imaging in the context of musculoskeletal pain, infection, tumors, arthropathies, metabolic bone disease, stress injuries, orthopedic hardware, avascular necrosis/bone infarction, and complex regional pain syndrome.

Anterior and posterior hip osteoarthritis: prevalence and potential value of CT compared to radiographs

PURPOSE

To determine the added value of computed tomography (CT) to identify severe hip osteoarthritis (OA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective query of all cases of hip or knee arthroplasty planning CTs between January 2018 and March 2022 was performed. Age, sex, and symptoms were collected from the medical record. CTs were evaluated for the degree of osteoarthritis and classified using an adapted Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading system in the anterior, posterior, superior, and superomedial hip. Frontal hip or pelvis radiographs within 1 year of the CT were also graded.

RESULTS

There were 265 eligible hips in 178 subjects, age 66 ± 11 (range 31-93) years, with 85/178 (48%) males and 93/178 (52%) females, and 127/265 (48%) right and 138/265 (52%) left hips. The posterior hip joint was the most common location for grade 2/3 OA (20%), followed by superior hip joint (14%). Anterior or posterior grade 2/3 OA occurred concurrently with superior or superomedial grade 2/3 OA in 32/68 (47%) of hips. Grade 2/3 OA was detected on CT more commonly than on XR both in the superior (14 vs 8.6%, P = 0.0016) and superomedial (8.7 vs 4.8%, P = 0.016) hip joint. Of the 71 symptomatic hips, 22 (31%) hips demonstrated either anterior and/or posterior grade 2/3 OA on CT, and 9 (9/22, 41%) of these hips had superior or superomedial grade 0/1 OA.

CONCLUSION

CT may be warranted when the patient has pain suggestive of osteoarthritis not detected on radiographs.

Osteoarthritis of the hip: is radiography still needed?

Diagnosis of hip osteoarthritis (OA) is based on clinical arguments, and medical imaging is obtained to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other possible sources of pain. Conventional radiographs are recommended as the first line imaging modality to investigate chronic hip pain. They should be obtained in a rigorous technique that includes an antero-posterior (AP) radiograph of the pelvis. The choice of the appropriate lateral view depends on the clinical indication, Lequesne's false profile being valuable in the assessment of OA. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is more sensitive to detect joint effusion/synovitis, cartilage, labral, and bone marrow lesions. However, structural joint changes are frequent in asymptomatic population and neither radiographs nor MRI have shown a good correlation with pain and functional impairment. MRI seems to be more suitable than radiographs as a biomarker for clinical trials addressing early OA. The absence of a validated MR biomarker of early OA, together with issues related to machine availability and MRI protocol repeatability, prevent the widespread use of MRI in clinical trials.

The use of plain radiography in diagnosing osteoarthritis: A systematic review and time trend analysis

INTRODUCTION

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) suggest there is no role for routine radiography in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA). It is not known how consistent this recommendation is across international guidelines, or the impact of UK guidance on domestic OA X-ray request rates.

METHODS

A systematic search identified guideline recommendations on the role of radiography in OA diagnosis. Full texts underwent dual screening and appraisal using the AGREE II tool. A narrative synthesis was performed. Consultation data were extracted from a UK primary care database: the Consultations in Primary Care Archives (CiPCA). The annual proportion of X-ray requests per 100 OA consulters from 2000 to 2012 were calculated. Joinpoint regression analysis examined if there were changes in the trend of X-ray request rates and compared these with the publication dates of UK guidelines.

RESULTS

Eighteen evidence-based OA guidelines were included in the review. Eleven recommended a clinical diagnosis of OA without radiographic confirmation. Seven recommended routine radiography; these guidelines were predominantly for radiologists. A mean of 17.3 X-rays per 100 patients were requested in patients consulting for OA per year between 2000 and 2012. A statistically significant reduction in X-ray request rates was seen in 2003.

CONCLUSION

Recommendations on the role of radiography in OA vary between medical specialty and countries. UK guidelines appear to have had a limited impact on X-ray request rates in OA.

Imaging of common hip pathologies in runners

Running is an increasingly popular sport and form of exercise. Because of the importance of the hip in the biomechanics involved with running, forming the primary connection between the axial and appendicular skeleton of the lower extremities, accurate diagnosis and reporting of hip pathology are vital for appropriate management. This review provides an overview of the most common hip pathologies and injuries encountered in runners. Radiologic studies, primarily conventional radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide useful diagnostic information and should be used in combination with clinical findings to help guide therapeutic management.

A Case Study of Chronic Iliopsoas Tendinopathy and Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Masquerading As Pelvic Girdle Pain

Pain related to pregnancy can occur anytime between conception to the postpartum period. Pregnancy and the following months after birth are a time of physical change to the woman’s body, with significant hormonal effects. We present a case of a young female with chronic pain several years after her second pregnancy that presented a diagnostic challenge. She was initially diagnosed with persistent pelvic girdle pain (PGP) type 2, responded somewhat to appropriately targeted pelvic floor therapy, with a plateau in her progress. The diagnosis was revised to PGP type 4, with some improvement in pain with customized therapy. Her treatment again changed with a focus on sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction and iliopsoas tendinopathy with excellent and complete resolution of her pain. The overlapping nature of these diagnoses caused a significant challenge in creating a tailored physical therapy approach to her pain that eventually led to her final diagnosis being one of exclusion. Treatment was focused on optimization of joint mobility and tissue lengthening, with the resolution of her pain.

Best Practices for Chiropractic Management of Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline

Objective: To develop an evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) through a broad-based consensus process on best practices for chiropractic management of patients with chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain. Design: CPG based on evidence-based recommendations of a panel of experts in chronic MSK pain management. Methods: Using systematic reviews identified in an initial literature search, a steering committee of experts in research and management of patients with chronic MSK pain drafted a set of recommendations. Additional supportive literature was identified to supplement gaps in the evidence base. A multidisciplinary panel of experienced practitioners and educators rated the recommendations through a formal Delphi consensus process using the RAND Corporation/University of California, Los Angeles, methodology. Results: The Delphi process was conducted January-February 2020. The 62-member Delphi panel reached consensus on chiropractic management of five common chronic MSK pain conditions: low-back pain (LBP), neck pain, tension headache, osteoarthritis (knee and hip), and fibromyalgia. Recommendations were made for nonpharmacological treatments, including acupuncture, spinal manipulation/mobilization, and other manual therapy; modalities such as low-level laser and interferential current; exercise, including yoga; mind-body interventions, including mindfulness meditation and cognitive behavior therapy; and lifestyle modifications such as diet and tobacco cessation. Recommendations covered many aspects of the clinical encounter, from informed consent through diagnosis, assessment, treatment planning and implementation, and concurrent management and referral. Appropriate referral and comanagement were emphasized. Conclusions: These evidence-based recommendations for a variety of conservative treatment approaches to the management of common chronic MSK pain conditions may advance consistency of care, foster collaboration between provider groups, and thereby improve patient outcomes.

Intraoperative radiation exposure in hip arthroscopy: a systematic review

Fluoroscopy is used in hip arthroscopy (HA) for portal placement, instrument localisation, and guidance in bony resection. The recent increase in arthroscopic hip procedures may place patients and surgeons at risk for increased radiation exposure and radiation-induced complications. The purpose of the current systematic review was to assess intraoperative radiation exposure in HA. The systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines; inclusion criteria were studies assessing radiation exposure in HA. 9 studies including 994 patients were included. Mean age was 38.6 years and 48% (436 of 906) were female. Mean time of fluoroscopy exposure was 0.58 minutes. Dose area product was 129.5 cGycm². Mean intraoperative absorbed radiation dose studies was 12.6 mGy. Mean intraoperative effective dose was 0.48 mSv. The mean occupational exposure to the surgeon per case was 0.0031 mSv. Higher patient body mass index (BMI) correlated to greater patient effective and cumulative dose (p < 0.05, r = 0.404), and greater occupational exposure (p < 0.001, r = 0.460). Increasing surgeon experience decreased fluoroscopy time (p = 0.039) and radiation dose (p = 0.002). Radiation dose and effective dose were well under the thresholds for deterministic effects (2 Gy) and annual radiation exposure for occupational workers (20 mSv). Intraoperative radiation exposure to patients and surgeons is within acceptable annual radiation limits. Ensuring careful selection of perioperative imaging modalities, proper protective shielding, specifically the use of leaded eyeglasses, and optimal C-arm positioning are key strategies to reduce radiation exposure to patients and surgeons alike.

Performance of a Deep Learning Algorithm in Detecting Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head on Digital Radiography: A Comparison With Assessments by Radiologists

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to compare the sensitivity of a deep learning (DL) algorithm with the assessments by radiologists in diagnosing osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) using digital radiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We performed a two-center, retrospective, noninferiority study of consecutive patients (≥ 16 years old) with a diagnosis of ONFH based on MR images. We investigated the following four datasets of unilaterally cropped hip anteroposterior radiographs: training (n = 1346), internal validation (n = 148), temporal external test (n = 148), and geographic external test (n = 250). Diagnostic performance was measured for a DL algorithm, a less experienced radiologist, and an experienced radiologist. Noninferiority analyses for sensitivity were performed for the DL algorithm and both radiologists. Subgroup analysis for precollapse and postcollapse ONFH was done. RESULTS. Overall, 1892 hips (1037 diseased and 855 normal) were included. Sensitivity and specificity for the temporal external test set were 84.8% and 91.3% for the DL algorithm, 77.6% and 100.0% for the less experienced radiologist, and 82.4% and 100.0% for the experienced radiologist. Sensitivity and specificity for the geographic external test set were 75.2% and 97.2% for the DL algorithm, 77.6% and 75.0% for the less experienced radiologist, and 78.0% and 86.1% for the experienced radiologist. The sensitivity of the DL algorithm was noninferior to that of the assessments by both radiologists. The DL algorithm was more sensitive for precollapse ONFH than the assessment by the less experienced radiologist in the temporal external test set (75.9% vs 57.4%; 95% CI of the difference, 4.5-32.8%). CONCLUSION. The sensitivity of the DL algorithm for diagnosing ONFH using digital radiography was noninferior to that of both less experienced and experienced radiologist assessments.

The role of hybrid bone SPECT/CT imaging in the work-up of the limping patient: a symptom-based and joint-oriented review

A vast spectrum of lower limb bone and joint disorders (hip, knee, ankle, foot) present with a common clinical presentation: limping. Too often this symptom generates an inefficient cascade of imaging studies. This review attempts to optimise the diagnostic effectiveness of bone scintigraphy using the hybrid SPECT/CT technique in relation to the diagnostic clues provided by other imaging modalities, discusses the appropriate clinical indications, optimal scintigraphic procedures and illustrates updated image pattern-oriented reporting. Frequent lower limb bone and joint pathologies that can now be reliably diagnosed using hybrid bone SPECT/CT imaging will be reviewed. Bone SPECT/CT can be an effective problem-solving tool in patients with persistent limping when careful history taking, clinical examination, and first-line imaging modalities fail to identify the underlying cause.