Baby hip ultrasound
At birth, hip development is not yet complete. Approximately four percent of newborns may be affected by a hip maturation disorder, in which the hip socket is too small and does not adequately cover the femoral head. The position of the hip joint can also occasionally cause problems. A distinction is made between hip dysplasia (an immaturity in which the hip socket is insufficiently developed) and hip dislocation (a dislocation in which the femoral head is not properly seated in the socket). To prevent long-term consequences, in Austria, infants' hips are routinely examined for possible malformations by radiologists using ultrasound. The Austrian mother-child health record (Mutter-Kind-Pass) stipulates an examination in the first week of life and a follow-up examination at 6 to 8 weeks of age.
Introduction
Ultrasound examinations use harmless sound waves to make the inside of the body visible. As radiologists, we use the method frequently and in a variety of ways, for example to examine organs such as the liver, pancreas, kidneys, blood vessels or joints.
The term ultrasound actually comes from physics. It refers to sound waves whose frequency is above the human hearing range and which the human ear can no longer perceive. In medicine, an imaging procedure has been developed from this, which is often colloquially called "ultrasound". Other terms for the examination are sonography or echography.
Ultrasound examinations pose little risk when used correctly.