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

ABSTRACT To 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.