Introduction of Hip Ultrasonography to the Neonatal Services of a Fife District General Hospital

Abstract

Ultrasonography of the hip is a new technique which is said to assist in the diagnosis of neonatal hip disorders. The authors were unaware of any reports of formal evaluation of the introduction of this new technology into a District General Hospital. This study outlines several aspects of patient care before and after the introduction of neonatal hip ultrasonography to a Fife hospital as an adjunct to a neonatal orthopaedic clinic. After introduction of ultrasound the proportion of patients where the consultant was ‘very confident’ in the diagnosis increased by 29% (95% confidence intervals 9% to 49%); the proportion of children requiring three or more x-rays in the year following referral fell by 46% (95% confidence intervals 27% to 65%) and the proportion of children requiring five or more follow up attendances in the year following referral fell by 56% (95% confidence intervals 38% to 74%).

Introduction of this technology has benefited patients by reducing their need to attend clinics and reducing their overall exposure to ionising radiation. There is a continuing need for ultrasonography to be provided in Fife neonatal orthopaedic outpatient clinics.