Sonography of the Infant Hip: an Atlas

Technical advances in diagnostic ultrasound have made it possible to image internal structures safely and without exposing the patient to the hazards of ionizing radiation. This atlas contains illustrative sonograms to aid ultrasound use.

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Technical advances in diagnostic ultrasound have made it possible to image internal structures safely and without exposing the patient to the hazards of ionizing radiation. This is particularly advantageous in examinations of the infant hip, where ultrasound permits earlier diagnosis, the earlier initiation of therapy, and the continuous monitoring of the patient's progress. For each of the sonographically distinct hip types, this atlas contains many illustrative sonograms which give further insight into the value of ultrasound as a monitoring tool. The figures show the improved resolution of sonography compared with conventional invasive and noninvasive imaging modalities, and they demonstrate the advantages of variable dynamic focusing. They also point to a problem of hip sonography, i.e. that interpretation requires the ability to visualize complex anatomic relationships. Consequently, this atlas serves as a self-teaching guide for those who are already knowledgeable and trained in the sonographic evaluation of the hip.