Intraarticular loose bodies in the adolescent hip: results of treatment of those recognized late.

Seven cases of intraarticular loose bodies, previously unrecognized, were treated with surgical removal of the fragment. The presence of an intraarticular loose body was suspected because of persistent pain, restriction of hip joint motion, and asymmetric widening of the medial clear space on an anteroposterior (AP) pelvic roentgenogram. The diagnosis was established by computed tomography (CT) scan. Surgical removal should yield a good to excellent result, even when performed late, as long as osteonecrosis is not present at the time of operation.