Plain Radiographs are a Useful Substitute for Computed Tomography in Evaluating Acetabular Cup Version

J Arthroplasty. 2016 Oct;31(10):2320-4. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2016.03.006. Epub 2016 Mar 15.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to compare acetabular component version measurements from cross-table lateral (XTL) radiographs, anteroposterior pelvis (AP-P) and anteroposterior hip (AP-H) radiographs, and axial pelvic computed tomography (CT) scans.

Methods: One hundred fifty hips met our inclusion criteria of having a CT, XTL, and AP-P done postoperatively. Version was measured by 2 authors. Pearson regression analysis assessed correlation between versions of the modalities. Analysis of variance testing compared the averages of the values as a whole and based on demographics. When available, comparisons were also done with AP-H radiographs.

Results: Mean version for XTL and CT scan was 21.7° and 23.8°, respectively, whereas that from AP-P and AP-H radiographs was 12.5° and 17.2°, respectively. XTL and AP-H version measures were closely correlated with CT (P = .81), whereas AP-P measurements were only moderately correlated with CT (P = .75). AP-P and AP-H were significantly (P < .05) different from CT, whereas XTL was not (P = .36).

Conclusion: The XTL radiograph remains a useful, cheaper, and safer substitute for CT scan when assessing supine version in the postoperative setting.

Keywords: acetabular component version; anteroposterior hip; anteroposterior pelvis; computed tomography scan; cross-table lateral; total hip arthroplasty.

MeSH terms

  • Acetabulum / diagnostic imaging*
  • Acetabulum / surgery
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip
  • Demography
  • Female
  • Hip Joint / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hip Joint / surgery
  • Hip Prosthesis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Period
  • Radiography / methods*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed