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The normal width of anterior hip synovial recess in children
Insights
This study establishes diagnostic criteria for hip joint effusion in children by measuring the anterior hip synovial recess width. A difference greater than 1.46 mm between a child
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Musculoskeletal Imaging
- Diagnostic Ultrasound
Background:
- Hip joint effusion requires accurate diagnostic criteria for timely intervention in children.
- Establishing normal reference values for the anterior hip synovial recess is crucial for pediatric hip joint assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the normal width of the anterior hip synovial recess in children.
- To identify the normal difference in recess width between a child's two hips.
- To establish ultrasound-based diagnostic criteria for suspected hip joint effusion.
Main Methods:
- Ultrasound measurements of the anterior hip synovial recess width in 1,568 hips from 784 children (aged 2.5–6.6 years).
- Standardized measurement protocol with children in supine position, hips and knees extended.
- Statistical analysis to correlate recess width with age and height, and to determine the difference between bilateral hips.
Main Results:
- The mean anterior hip synovial recess width was 7.29 ± 1.15 mm.
- A linear correlation was found between recess width and both age (in months) and height (in centimeters).
- The mean difference between the bilateral hip synovial recess widths was 0.611 ± 0.523 mm, independent of child's characteristics.
Conclusions:
- A difference in anterior hip synovial recess width greater than 1.46 mm between a child's hips suggests potential hip joint effusion.
- Ultrasound measurement of the anterior hip synovial recess provides valuable diagnostic criteria for pediatric hip effusions.
- Normal reference ranges and bilateral differences aid in the accurate diagnosis of hip joint pathology in children.
Abstract:
To establish the diagnostic criteria for hip joint effusion, the normal width of the anterior hip synovial recess in children and the difference between both hips of the same child were examined in this study. Eight kindergarten schools were randomly selected for study in Kaohsiung City. The width of anterior hip synovial recess of 1,568 hips in 784 children (421 boys, 363 girls) was measured by ultrasound scanner with 7.5-MHz linear probe. The age of children ranged from 2.5 to 6.6 years old. During measurement, the children were put in supine position with hips and knees in extension and patella facing up. The results revealed that the mean width of the anterior synovial recess was 7.29+/-1.15 mm. Linear correlation of the width of synovial recess to age and height was disclosed and expressed as follows: width (millimeters) equal to 6.52+0.013x age (months), or width (millimeters) equal to 3.97+0.030x height (centimeters). The mean difference between both hips of the same child was 0.611+/-0.523 mm, and the difference was independent from the factors of age, gender, height, or weight (p>0.05). Ninety-five percent of the differences should be < or =1.46 mm, so that if the difference between hips is >1.46 mm, hip joint effusion should be suspected.