Dynamic ultrasonography of the infant hip with suspected instability

Abstract

Purpose: the combining of clinical examination of the infant hip with dynamic ultrasound (US) into one examination, performed by one examiner, should result in a sensitive test for hip instability. in this study a new method of dynamic US examination of the hip in newborn and very young children, that combined US with stress testing (Barlow method) was tested.

Material and Methods: A specially designed examination table, with a US probeholder, enabled the radiologist to perform a stress test of the hip according to Barlow(using both hands), and simultaneously monitor it on US. Fifty-seven infants and young children were examined by this method, and compared with the Graf'method and clinical stress test.

Results: Our method allowed clear visualisation of the movement of the femoral head during the stress test, and was performed easily in patients under 3–4 months of age.

Conclusion: the described method is easily adapted for one examiner with experience in US and in the clinical examination of the infant hip.