Which imaging study is used for workup of suspected developmental dysplasia of the hip?

Which imaging study is used for workup of suspected developmental dysplasia of the hip?

• A. Sonogram of the hip
• B. X-ray pelvis
• C. MRI hip
• D. CT hip

Answer: (A)

Ultrasound of the hip is the imaging study of choice when developmental dysplasia of the hip is suspected in infants. The hip joint in newborns and young infants is largely cartilage, so X-rays don’t reliably show the femoral head’s position or how well the acetabulum covers it early on. Ultrasound can visualize the cartilaginous femoral head and acetabulum, assess how the head sits within the socket, and evaluate hip stability in real time. This modality also enables standardized assessment (like Graf angles) and dynamic testing to detect instability, all without radiation. As children get older and ossification progresses, X-ray pelvis becomes more informative for evaluating bony architecture and acetabular development, but it isn’t as effective for early detection in the first few months. MRI and CT aren’t first-line for suspected DDH due to cost, accessibility, and in CT’s case radiation exposure, though they can be useful in more complex or ambiguous cases.

Ultrasound of the hip is the imaging study of choice when developmental dysplasia of the hip is suspected in infants. The hip joint in newborns and young infants is largely cartilage, so X-rays don’t reliably show the femoral head’s position or how well the acetabulum covers it early on. Ultrasound can visualize the cartilaginous femoral head and acetabulum, assess how the head sits within the socket, and evaluate hip stability in real time. This modality also enables standardized assessment (like Graf angles) and dynamic testing to detect instability, all without radiation.

As children get older and ossification progresses, X-ray pelvis becomes more informative for evaluating bony architecture and acetabular development, but it isn’t as effective for early detection in the first few months. MRI and CT aren’t first-line for suspected DDH due to cost, accessibility, and in CT’s case radiation exposure, though they can be useful in more complex or ambiguous cases.