Accuracy of diagnostic imaging techniques in the diagnosis of aseptic loosening of the femoral component of a hip prosthesis

A meta analysis was performed to determine the accuracy of diagnostic imaging techniques in detecting aseptic femoral component loosening in patients with THA. The results from thirty-two trials involving diagnostic performance of plain radiography, subtraction athrography, nuclear arthrography and bone scintigraphy were considered. The results suggest that although there was no significant difference among techniques, plain radiography and bone scintigraphy were the most efficacious and had the lowest risk of patient morbidity.