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Cam type femoro-acetabular impingement: quantifying the diagnosis using three dimensional head-neck ratios

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Abstract

Objective

Cam hips are commonly quantified using the two-dimensional α angle. The accuracy of this measurement may be affected by patient position and the technician’s experience. In this paper, we describe a method of measurement that provides a quantitative definition of cam hips based upon three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) images.

Materials and methods

CT scans of 47 (24 cam, 23 normal) femurs were segmented. A sphere was fitted to the articulating surface of the femoral head, the radius (r) recorded, and the femoral neck axis obtained. The cross sectional area at four locations spanning the head neck junction (r/4, r/2, 3r/4 and r), perpendicular to the neck axis, was measured. The ratios (Neck/Head) between the areas at each cut relative to the surface area at the head centre were calculated and aggregated.

Results

Normal and cam hips were significantly different: the sum of the head-neck ratios (HNRs) of the cam hips were always smaller than normal hips (p < 0.01). A cut off point of 2.55 with no overlap was found between the two groups, with HNRs larger than this being cam hips, and smaller being normal ones.

Conclusion

Owing to its sensitivity and repeatability, the method could be used to confirm or refute the clinical diagnosis of a cam hip. Furthermore it can be used as a tool to measure the outcome of cam surgery.

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Acknowledgement

We would like to thank the Wellcome trust and EPSRC for funding part of the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MSK Lab, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Hospital, Room 7L16, Floor 7, London, W6 8RF, UK

    Milad Masjedi, Charles S. Marquardt, Isabella M. H. Drummond, Simon J. Harris & Justin P. Cobb

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  1. Milad Masjedi
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  2. Charles S. Marquardt
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  3. Isabella M. H. Drummond
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  4. Simon J. Harris
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  5. Justin P. Cobb
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Correspondence to Milad Masjedi.

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Masjedi, M., Marquardt, C.S., Drummond, I.M.H. et al. Cam type femoro-acetabular impingement: quantifying the diagnosis using three dimensional head-neck ratios. Skeletal Radiol 42, 329–333 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-012-1459-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-012-1459-5

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