[Paediatric hip sonography: current status at German university hospitals]

This study was conducted to evaluate the current status of pediatric hip sonography at German university hospitals.

A questionnaire was sent to all heads of orthopedic departments in Germany. They were asked to give details of the technique and instrumentation used for hip ultrasound examination, local organization of consultation and options for advanced training of students and staff.

The return rate of the questionnaires was 93.9 %. Pediatric hip ultrasonography was performed at every university hospital by staff of the orthopedic and trauma departments (n = 31, 100 %). A well-established tradition of teaching both medical students and physicians on this topic was reported by many departments. Courses with a focus on pediatric hip sonography were organized in 25.8 % of the German university hospitals. In the majority of the responding orthopedic and trauma departments a 7.5 MHz linear transducer for ultrasound examination (93.5 %), a foot switch for rapid freezing of the ultrasound image (93.5 %) and a cradle for positioning the infant (100 %) were used. A guided probe device recommended by Graf was only used in 35.5 % of the departments. Evaluation of the sonograms was performed in 19 of the clinics (61.3 %) in the classical way on printed paper strips.

This survey documented the high importance of pediatric hip sonography in German university hospitals. Quality controls in the orthopedic departments are carried out internally. For this reason both the implementation of standardized training courses and the schooling of well-trained instructors are mandatory.