Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of an Occult Fracture of the Femoral Component After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Fractures of the femoral component in total hip arthroplasty have been extensively reported1-9. Although some patients with such a fracture have acute symptoms and obvious radiographic findings, we have occasionally seen patients after total hip arthroplasty who have thigh pain and normal radiographic findings. The patient is often vague with regard to the time of the onset and the provocation of the thigh pain. After a period of time, a fracture of the femoral component can be seen on plain radiographs. To the best of our knowledge, the case of our patient is unique because, when we suspected a possible fracture of the femoral component as the cause of the thigh pain, we used magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate the integrity of the stem and found an occult fracture of the femoral component. Our patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication.