Radiographic evaluation of prosthetic joints

Radiography provides a record of the serial progress of a joint prosthesis. It provides information that helps narrow down the possible reasons for pain in a prosthetic joint and demonstrates most of the complications occurring with joint replacement. Arthrography is useful to distinguish severe joint pain due to infection from other causes. It also can show component loosening not evident on plain films and may reveal that only one component is loose, thus allowing the surgeon to feel comfortable about revising only the loose component.