Sonography in the diagnosis of painful hips.

We report our use of linear sonography in evaluating painful and irritable hips. Images were correlated with the clinical course and outcome, and other methods of diagnostic imaging. Sonography demonstrated the anatomical structures of the hip, the joint space and capsule. A significant increase of joint space due to the progressive development of intra-articular fluid was found in patients with transient synovitis, septic arthritis and osteomyelitis of the femoral neck. Sonography and CT scanning appear to be the most reliable methods of making an early diagnosis of various hip disorders. Both allow serial examination for evaluating the patients' clinical progress. Sonography has the advantages of being noninvasive, cheap, easy to use, and devoid of irradiation or any other known complications.