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Hip Synovitis

Piran Aliabadi, MD
B Leonard Holman, MD

November 8, 1995

Presentation

A 40-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis describes right hip pain. On physical examination, there is tenderness in the right hip area.

Imaging Findings

Plain Radiograph of the Pelvis and Right Hip

There is widening of the right hip joint (widening of the tear drop distance) (arrow) without bone abnormalities.

Diagnosis

Aspiration of the right hip under fluoroscopic observation produced 10 ml of aseptic fluid. The patient was treated for synovitis.

Discussion

Widening of the tear drop distance of 1 mm or more in adults indicates hip joint effusion. In patients with hip pain, a radiograph of the pelvis should be included as part of the examination so that the hip joints can be compared.

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