MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FOR DIAGNOSING THE PRE-SLIP STAGE OF THE CONTRALATERAL PROXIMAL FEMORAL EPIPHYSIS IN PATIENTS WITH UNILATERAL EPIPHYSIOLYSIS

ABSTRACTTo assess the importance of using conventional magnetic resonance imaging and T2 mapping to determine the pre-slip stage of the contralateral epiphysis in patients with a clinical and radiographic diagnosis of unilateral proximal femoral epiphysiolysis who were initially treated with in-situ fixation. Methods: This prospective clinical study on 11 patients with unilateral epiphysiolysis was conducted between February 2009 and August 2010, using magnetic resonance imaging on the contralateral hip. Results: We observed abnormalities in the proximal femoral capital physis of the contralateral unaffected hip, with edema under the growth plate in 27% of the patients assessed. Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging is an early and sensitive method for detecting the pre-slip stage of the proximal femoral epiphysis.