Ultrasound technology predicts hip dysplasia in infants

A technique that uses ultrasound images to determine the depth and shape of the hip socket can accurately predict which babies with hip dysplasia will develop normal hip structures and which ones will still develop, according to a study in the journal Radiology.

Dysplasia occurs when a baby's acetabulum is too shallow to cover the head of the thigh

There is no consensus on how and when to treat stable hip dysplasia (Graf type 2, as determined by the Graf classification system)

"The most important negative consequence of overtreatment is the economic and logistical burden on parents and society," Dr.

Avascular necrosis is a disease caused by temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to the bone

The Graf classification system is a common method for evaluating hip dysplasia, but it has its limitations

Statistical shape modeling with ultrasound is an alternative approach that quantifies the shape of the hip image through multiple reference points, each with an X-coordinate and a Y-coordinate in the 2D ultrasound image

"Quantifying the shape of hip images through statistical shape modeling allows more data to be extracted from ultrasound images than currently used methods," Dr.

In the study, Dr.

They built statistical shape models on baseline ultrasound images and then correlated the models with persistent hip dysplasia on ultrasound after 12 weeks of follow-up and residual hip dysplasia on pelvic radiographs around age 1

The results showed that the statistical shape model accurately predicted which hips were normal or dysplastic

While more research is needed to validate the proof of concept, the findings support the future role of statistical shape models in the clinic

Dr Sakkers said: "This method can be automated after validation, similar to the current method for automatically determining the age of bones in the hand from X-rays

The researchers hope to demonstrate the robustness of the approach by conducting additional studies in other stable cohorts of patients with hip dysplasia classified according to Graf

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Statistical Shape Models of U.
S.
Images Predict Infant Hip Dysplasia with Dr.
Sakkers, Joshua M.
Bonsel, MD, Willem Paul Gielis, MD, Virginie Pollet, MD, and Harrie H.
Weinans, MD
.