title: [Ultrasonography of the neonatal hip: state of the art and perspectives].
abstract: Since the first studies by Graf, medical interest for neonatal hip sonography (US) has grown, till the redefinition of the name itself of the pathologic condition, which has been recently renamed developmental dysplasia of the hip. After briefly reviewing our personal series of patients (18,388 hips studied from March, 1986, through June, 1995, with 2.81% positives according to Graf, 0.65% of them with subluxated hips), several issues are discussed relative to US of the neonatal hip in the study of dysplasia, namely: 1) technique, 2) measurements, 3) unstable hips, 4) screening, 5) protocols, 6) perspectives. Relative to the technique, Graf's method is currently the method of choice because it is easy to perform (single scanning) and repeatable, different from what other authors, particularly Novick and Harcke, suggested; they use a dynamic approach with more scans and different stress tests. Moreover, in Graf's technique, special attention is paid to the need for correct measurements, which phase was criticized by Couture who complained of its claimed complexity. Hip measurements are an important step in the study of this condition thanks to the information they yield the physician who can thus customize the therapy. The problem of the unstable hip and focal ligament laxity is discussed, which is hypothesized to be a possible cause of hip dysplasia misdiagnosis; according to Graf and Tönnis, this condition is related mostly to hormonal factors and has no actual clinical importance in the possible evolution to a pathologic condition. US of the neonatal hip must be set in a general screening program for newborns to be carried out by the 6th week of life to achieve optimal recovery in positive newborns, without limiting it to supposedly at risk groups. Moreover, the cost-benefit ratio of US screening is emphasized, provided that both medical staff and units are used correctly. A working diagnostic-therapeutic protocol is needed to plan standard epidemiologic guidelines for all physicians nationwide. Finally, we report on an initial study for new applications of US to the neonatal hip with an original computer software for automatic measurement of Wiberg's angle in the newborn, which might help predict the development of early juvenile coxarthrosis.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Radiologia, Ospedale Generale Provinciale, Bressanone (BZ).
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ortore
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fodor
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silverio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Psenner
mesh_terms: D006615:Hip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006618:Hip Dislocation, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D014463:Ultrasonography
vernacular_title: Ecografia dell'anca neonatale: stato dell'arte e prospettive.