Three-dimensional sonographic evaluation of developmental dysplasia of the hip: preliminary findings.

PURPOSE To determine the value of three-dimensional (3D) sonography in the evaluation of developmental dysplasia of the hip. MATERIALS AND METHODS 3D reconstruction and section analysis were performed on 38 data acquisitions obtained in nine patients with a clinical diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip. Data were obtained mostly in the coronal plane, and section-analysis and 3D volume reconstruction images were generated. RESULTS Of the 32 image sets obtained in the coronal plane, the technical quality of 27 (84%) section-analysis images and 25 (78%) spatial-revolving images was judged to be satisfactory. CONCLUSION In addition to permitting global visualization of the hip, 3D sonography offers imaging in the sagittal and craniocaudal projections, something no other modality can offer. 3D sonography can also demonstrate the relationship of the femoral head to the acetabulum and femoral head containment more thoroughly than does conventional sonography.