title: Ultrasonography in the management of painful hips in children.
abstract: The decision to aspirate a painful hip joint is often based on history, physical, and laboratory findings. The purpose of this study is to determine whether ultrasound is helpful in making decisions to aspirate a painful hip joint in children. The anterior capsular distance was determined in 10 children with painful or irritable hips. This anterior capsular distance is 2 to 4 mm in most hips. A side difference of 2 mm or more is considered a significant capsular distension. Based on these criteria and clinical parameters, 3 hips were aspirated, and 7 were observed without aspiration. None of the 7 hips subsequently required further diagnostic workup or treatment and all have had a satisfactory outcome. Ultrasound is a reliable method to detect capsular distension or joint effusion. It helps significantly in making the decision as to "when to aspirate" a painful or irritable hip joint.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of South Alabama, Mobile, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nimityongskul
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: McBryde
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Crotty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059408:Pain Management; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography