STANDARD VALUES FOR ULTRASOUND OF THE FET AL HIP

Although etiology and pathogenesis of congenital dislocation of the hi p (CDH) is of broad interest in orthopaedics, basic questions still re main obscure. Advances in high-resolution ultrasound technology now pe rmit investigation of the fetal hip joint in vivo. Standard values of intrauterine hip development have been established by investigating 14 6 fetuses (141 pregnancies) in vivo by ultrasound. Standard values des cribe the development from 20th weeks of gestation until birth. Prenat al Alpha-values suggest influence of intrauterine posture and spatial fetal conditions on hip development. Alpha-angles of 59.7 (SD 8.9) are achieved at the end of pregnancy. These angles meet standards of Graf 's calculations for the postnatal hip development. Standard values of intrauterine hip development are of basic interest for interpretation of hip joints in premature children.