Parents are kind to newborn children. Any medical appointments cause them a lot of questions. When the doctor directs the baby to check the hip joint, ultrasound seems to them something dangerous and undesirable. However, an ultrasound examination does not have a negative effect on the baby's body. This technique is harmless. Parents should understand that the doctor is designed to protect their child from serious problems, so his appointment must be performed. What can alert the doctor and why do ultrasound of the hip joint in the baby?
Indications for ultrasound examination
Children may be born with dysplasia of one or both of the hip joints. According to statistics, this problem manifests itself in 15% of newborns. Attentive parents notice the first signs themselves. Usually they are alarmed by one of the following symptoms:
- one leg of the baby looks shorter than the other;
- when bathing or dressing, it is difficult for the baby to completely spread its legs, movement is limited;
- when abducting one or both thighs, clicks are heard in the joint;
- the folds on the legs and buttocks are asymmetrical;
- leg muscles are in hypertonicity.
However, if the parents did not notice these deviations, then the doctor will examine them necessarily. He will check mobility and examine the hip joint. Ultrasound will be the best option to clarify the diagnosis.
Risk group
All babies at 1 and 3 months undergo a mandatory medical examination by specialists. However, there is a risk group for hip dysplasia. Particular attention is required to premature babies born at 7-8 months of pregnancy, and children whose mothers had a similar anomaly. In addition, children from multiple pregnancies and those born with pelvic presentation are at risk. Ultrasound of the hip joints of newborns from this group can be considered mandatory. Since the earlier the pathology is detected, the more chances there are to completely correct the situation. Dysplasia of newborns can be completely cured, and in the future the child will not feel any discomfort.
What is dysplasia?
Dysplasia is a congenital disease characterized by underdevelopment or abnormal formation of the hip joint. Medicine distinguishes 3 degrees of the disease:
- I - a preview of the underdeveloped hip joint without visible changes in the position of the femoral head with respect to the articular cavity.
- II - subluxation, that is, the hip bone is partially shifted relative to the articular cavity.
- ІІІ - dislocation, that is, the head of the femur bone is completely moved or left the deepening of the hip joint.
Preparing the baby for ultrasound
How should parents act if a monthly baby needs to examine the hip joint? Ultrasound will be carried out in the supine position. The baby during the examination should be calm and motionless. The main task of parents is to ensure a comfortable state of the child so that he calmly transfers the examination.
In order for the baby to be calm, he must be full and healthy. On the day of the examination, colic should not bother him. 30 minutes before the procedure, the newborn must be fed. If this is done earlier, the baby may get hungry, and if later, then burp during the procedure.
How is an ultrasound performed
Ultrasound of the hip joint in children - the procedure is safe. It does not result in exposure to a small patient. Studies are carried out with a linear scan sensor.
The baby is laid on a hard trestle bed, on its side, while the legs should be pulled up in the hip joints at about an angle of 30 °. In the field of research, a hypoallergenic gel is applied to the skin. The sensor is located above the large skewer. For clarity, the image is shifted in the necessary direction. To detect decentralization of the head of the joint, the hips are pulled to the abdomen and rotated. After one hip joint is examined, ultrasound is repeated on the other side.
The survey results are recorded on thermal paper. After visual examination, the specialist deciphers the indicators.
Decryption
There are angular indicators by which decoding of the survey results is carried out. To do this, 4 lines are drawn on the ultrasound image: basic, acetabular, inclinational, convexital.
Next, measure angular values and evaluate dysplastic changes according to the classification list:
- Normal, that is, a full-fledged hip joint, is designated as type 1A.
- The transient form of dysplasia, that is, short with an expanded limbus, but without displacement from the center, is designated as type 1B.
- A joint with a developmental delay in which the cartilaginous portion of the roof over the cavity is expanded is designated as type 2.
- Joint with delayed formation (for children under 3 months of age) - as type 2A.
- Slow-ripening joint older than 3 months - type 2B.
- Changes with slight decentration are referred to as type 2B.
- A joint with a developmental delay and a flattened roof of the cavity is designated as type 3.
- Joint underdevelopment without structural changes is referred to as type 3A.
- Underdevelopment with structural rearrangement of cartilage - type 3B.
- Severe underdevelopment with the exit of the head from the joint cavity - type 4.
After deciphering the ultrasound of the hip joints, the development rate or pathology is described and transmitted to the attending physician. However, if the examination was conducted by a medical professional without the appropriate qualifications, then the sensor could be located at the wrong points. This means that the result will be incorrect.
Are there any contraindications for babies?
Parents should not be nervous about the prescribed examination. Ultrasound of the hip joints of newborns, whose age is 1 month, has no contraindications. Starting from 2 months, a contraindication may be ossification of the femoral head. In this case, starting from the age of three months, an x-ray of the hip joints can be prescribed .
In some cases, the love of children takes on a strange character. Parents are afraid that orthopedic structures (stirrups, struts) cause inconvenience to the baby, and remove them. It seems to them that they felt sorry for the little man, but the result of such “pity” could be disability. A child with age will begin to experience pain, his legs will have different lengths. Over time, a joint replacement surgery may be necessary. Is this what “compassionate” parents wanted for their treasure?