Acute hip pain, suspect fracture?

Imaging of acute hip pain, suspect fracture?

Summary:

First study middle aged or elderly = Xray hip, AP and cross table lateral and Xray pelvis, AP view BOTH

Negative or indeterminate radiograph, then = MRI hip/pelvis or CT hips

(Note if fracture and minimal trauma, eval bone density with DEXA scan)

As always, please refer to the source Appropriateness Criteria created by the American College of Radiology, here.

Educational purposes for licensed providers.

Note to Patients:

Radiology is a very large and ever changing field and this post is to help your provider.  When combined with a thorough history and physical exam, this information can be very useful.  Your provider is best suited to answer specific questions regarding this post.

A provider is usually a Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant or Medical Doctor.

Of course, this is not a substitute for medical care.

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