Imaging of Hip Injuries in Dancers

Dancers are quite prone to injuries in the hip region. Imaging plays a key role in evaluation of the pain resulting from such injuries, as proximity of structures and cross-innervation can result in a clinical dilemma regarding the specific injury, and thus origin of the pain generator. Advanced imaging techniques, including MRI, ultrasound, and multidetector CT, are becoming increasingly important in the workup of injuries in athletes, yet radiographs remain an essential component. This article presents a variety of injuries in the hip and groin region that may be seen in dancers and discusses the utility of basic and advanced imaging modalities.