Assessment of variations in the measurement of hip ultrasonography by the Graf method in developmental dysplasia of the hip

The purpose of this study was to assess the variations in the measurement o f hip ultrasonography using the Graf method in developmental hip dysplasia. Twenty-two observers independently analyzed 20 hip ultrasonograms on two o ccasions. intraobserver and interobserver agreement ratios on the exact Gra f classification were 65% and 51%, respectively. Intraobserver and interobs erver agreement ratios on the treatment method according to the hip type we re 76% and 64%, respectively. Average intraobserver and interobserver diffe rences were 4.0 degrees and 5.1 degrees for the alpha angle, and 5.9 degree s and 10.1 degrees for the beta angle, respectively. It was concluded that having a basic knowledge of the Graf method was the key point, and the obse rver's previous number of examinations had no effect on the results.