Hakan Atalar1, Cüneyd Günay2, O. Şahap Atik3

1Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
2Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir, Turkey
3Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Turkish Joint Diseases Foundation, Ankara, Turkey

Alpha (α) and beta (β) angles are measured in the coronal section view on hip ultrasonography. These angles take into account acetabulum ossification seen on ultrasonography and it is accepted that the hip would not deteriorate after ultrasonographic normalization.[1] In daily practice, the treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is terminated, when an α angle of ≥60 degrees (ultrasonographic normalization) is obtained. It is well known that hip ultrasonography shows ossification in soft tissues earlier than radiography.

In children undergoing DDH treatment, the osteochondral borders of the acetabulum visible on ultrasonography may not correspond with the osteochondral borders seen on radiographs.[2] For these patients, it cannot be guaranteed that the ossification of the acetabular region seen on coronal sections of ultrasonography would be also calcified on X-ray.[2,3] For instance, while the healing callus formation cannot be seen on radiography during the early period of the fracture union process, it can be seen very well on ultrasonography (Figure 1a, b). Therefore, in this case, if the immobilization is discontinued and movement is initiated earlier according to ultrasonography, the fracture healing may not be guaranteed.

According to this hypothesis, the process mentioned above may be valid for the ossification of the cartilage acetabulum of infants treated for DDH. In the literature, a high rate of early acetabular dysplasia has been reported in infants, when the DDH treatment has been discontinued after the hips have appeared normal on ultrasonography.[3]

In conclusion, it may be safer to consider normalization on radiography rather than normalization on ultrasonography before terminating the treatment of DDH in infants (Figure 2a, b). We have been using Graf method in diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of DDH for many years. In our opinion, physicians should not hesitate to take pelvic radiography before ceasing DDH treatment. Additionally, even if the hip ultrasonography findings in the neonatal period are normal, we recommend taking pelvic radiography between 6 to 12 months before the child starts walking, in the presence of clinical examination findings or risk factors of DDH. Nevertheless, there is a need for prospective, controlled studies of larger series to elucidate this important issue.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

References

  1. Graf R, Mohajer M, Plattner F. Hip sonography update. Quality-management, catastrophes - tips and tricks. Med Ultrason 2013;15:299-303.
  2. Atalar H, Gunay C, Turanli S, Koktener A. Discrepancy between ultrasonographic and radiographic findings in patients treated for developmental dysplasia of the hip; hip maturation on ultrasonography may not be consistent with radiographic hip maturation. J Pediatr Orthop B 2020;29:228-34.
  3. David M, Robb C, Jawanda S, Bache C, Bradish C. Late recurrence of developmental dysplasia of the hip following Pavlik harness treatment until normal ultrasound appearance. J Orthop 2014;12:81-5.