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 examine r, should result in a sensitive test for hip instability. In this stud y a new method of dynamic US examination of the hip in newborn and ver y young children, that combined US with stress testing (BARLOW method) was tested. Material and Methods: A specially designed examination ta ble, with a US probe holder, enabled the radiologist to perform a stre ss test of the hip according to BARLOW (using both hands), and simulta neously monitor it on US. Fifty-seven infants and young children were examined by this method, and compared with the GRAF method and clinica l 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 i n the clinical examination of the infant hip.