Sonography of the hip and soft tissues of the thigh in children.

High-resolution real-time sonography (US) has been used for many years in departments of pediatric radiology to image soft tissues and joints in children. The purpose of this study was to review the main indications and results of US in assessing the hip (except for congenital dislocation and subluxation) and the soft tissues of the thigh and groin in children. The technical and anatomical factors relative to the optimal imaging of the hip joint and thigh muscles are also discussed and a variety of conditions considered, ranging from painful hips to soft tissue masses. In conclusion, high-resolution US emerges as a particularly useful tool in the study of children with acute hip pain (hip joint effusion), suspected osteomyelitis (fluid collection around the femoral saft) and various soft tissue of the thigh.