Ultrasound of the hip: a review of the applications of a new technique.

In an attempt both to reduce gonadal irradiation incurred with conventional radiology, and to image the unossified structures of the neonatal hip, several groups have undertaken studies on aspects of hip ultrasound particularly with reference to the paediatric patient. The ultrasound anatomy of the unossified infant hip has been described by Graf in Austria. The same author has devised an ultrasonographic classification for hip dysplasias and dislocations which has gained widespread acceptance in mainland Europe. Two studies have appeared exploring the use of ultrasound for the measurement of femoral neck anteversion but as yet these have not been compared with CT or trigonometric methods of assessment. Ultrasound has been shown to be effective in the detection of hip joint effusions, but its role in the management of the "irritable hip" has yet to be defined.