Dynamic ultrasonography of the infant hip with suspected instability. A new technique.

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 probe holder, 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.