[Our three-year experience with an ultrasonographic hip screening program conducted in infants at 3 to 4 weeks of age]. / Uç-dört haftalik bebeklerde yürütülen ultrasonografik kalça taramasi programinda üç yillik deneyimimiz.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of a newborn ultrasonographic hip screening program conducted at 3-4 weeks of life, and to assess its utility and feasibility in Turkey. METHODS: During a three-year period, parents of 1440 newborns were interviewed within 48 hours following birth to be informed in detail about developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and its risk factors. They were asked to bring their infants for clinical and ultrasonographic examinations of the hips 3 to 4 weeks after birth. RESULTS: A total of 975 infants (67.7%; 488 girls, 487 boys; mean age 26 days; range 17 to 34 days) were available on the day of screening. According to the Graf's classification, 1664 hips (85.3%) were considered type I. Immediate treatment was initiated for 22 hips (1.2%) which were considered type IIc, D, or IIIa. All but one hip were found to be type I after eight weeks of treatment. Among type IIa hips with a complete follow-up, 12% required treatment. In total, 45 hips (2.3%) of 35 infants (3.6%) were treated preferably with a Pavlik harness. Of these, 10 infants (28.6%) had at least one risk factor for DDH, the most common being a positive family history (n=7, 20%). Of 45 treated hips, 12 hips (26.7%) exhibited positive clinical findings, the most common being asymmetry of the thigh/inguinal folds. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic hip screening program conducted at the age of 3 to 4 weeks is effective for early diagnosis and successful treatment of DDH. However, nearly one-thirds of the infants were not available at the appointed date, despite transmission of detailed information to the parents just after birth.

[Normal values of several acetabular angles on hip radiographs obtained from individuals living in the Eskisehir region]. / Eskisehir yöresinde çekilen kalça radyografilerinde yas gruplarina göre asetabulum açilarinin normal degerleri.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the normal values of several radiographic acetabular angles in individuals of Eskisehir region. METHODS: The acetabular index (AI) angle, acetabular angle (AA) of Sharp and the ACM angle were measured in 1162 normal hips (n=581, 251 males, 330 females; mean age 33 years; range 5 to 75 years). For AI angle, Hilgenreiner's line and the line connecting the lower end points of the sclerotic lines of the acetabular roofs were used for reference in subjects between five to 11 years with an open Y cartilage and in those with closed Y cartilage, respectively. AA and ACM angles were measured by the same method in all subjects. RESULTS: The mean AI angle between 5-11 years was 12.9+/-4.5 degrees; the upper normal limit for the Hilgenreiner's AI angle was derived as 22 degrees. The mean AI angle above age 11 was 3.3+/-4.7 degrees and the upper normal limit for the AI angle defined by Tönnis after age 11 was found as 13 degrees. Significant linear correlations were found between the AI angle and age for 5-11 years (p=0.002) and above 11 years (p=0.001), respectively. The mean AA angle was 39.2+/-4.6 degrees. There was a significant linear correlation between the AA angle and age (p=0.001). The upper limits for the AA angle in normal juvenile, adolescent, and adult hips were found as 52 degrees, 49 degrees, and 45 degrees, respectively. The mean ACM angle was 41.9+/-3.3 degrees. A significant linear correlation was observed between the ACM angle and age (p=0.001). The upper limit for the ACM angle in normal hips was assessed as 49 degrees in all age groups. CONCLUSION: The authors of this study propose that the normal limits of acetabular angles obtained from our own population be used as reference values in interpreting standard radiographs of the hip.