Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 21, 2026
Surgical Technique of the 3-Dimensional-printed Personalized Hip Implant for the Treatment of Canine Hip Dysplasia
Published on: April 19, 2024
Clinical study of anterior hip ultrasound (van Douveren's method)-assisted Pavlik harness
Yihua Ge1, Zhigang Wang1, Yunlan Xu2
1Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 1678 Dongfang Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai City, 200127, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Anterior hip ultrasound effectively monitors Pavlik harness treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). This method confirms hip reduction and stability, guiding treatment for Graf types D and III, but shows limited success for severe type IV dislocations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common pediatric condition requiring effective treatment and monitoring.
- The Pavlik harness is a standard treatment for DDH, but assessing its efficacy, particularly hip reduction and stability, can be challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of anterior hip ultrasound, specifically van Douveren's method, in conjunction with Pavlik harness therapy for DDH.
- To assess the ability of ultrasound to detect hip reduction and stability during Pavlik harness treatment.
Main Methods:
- Weekly anterior hip ultrasound scans were performed on children using a fixed Pavlik harness.
- Ultrasound criteria for concentric reduction included visualization of the superior ramus of the pubis, acetabulum, femoral head, and femoral neck in one plane.
- Ultrasonography was used to confirm the stability of the achieved hip reduction.
Main Results:
- Anterior hip ultrasound successfully assessed 51 dysplastic hips in 39 patients.
- Stable reduction was achieved in 37 hips (15 Graf type D, 22 type III) shortly after Pavlik harness application.
- Seven hips (6 type III, 1 type IV) achieved stable reduction within two weeks, while seven hips (2 type III, 5 type IV) did not achieve stable reduction after two weeks.
Conclusions:
- Anterior hip ultrasound (van Douveren's method) is a reliable tool for monitoring hip reduction and stability during Pavlik harness treatment for DDH.
- Most Graf type D and III hips achieve stable reduction with the Pavlik harness.
- Severely dislocated type IV hips have a lower success rate, suggesting consideration for alternative treatments early in the management of DDH.
Purpose:
To investigate the use of anterior hip ultrasound (van Douveren's method)-assisted Pavlik harness in developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).
Methods:
Weekly anterior hip ultrasound scanning was performed in children with fixed Pavlik harness to detect whether hip reduction was achieved with the help of harness (the superior ramus of the pubis, the acetabulum, the femoral head, and the femoral neck being depicted in one plane indicated concentric reduction of the hip), and the stability of the reduction was checked by ultrasonography.
Results:
A total of 39 child patients and 51 dysplastic hips were successfully detected by anterior ultrasound, and stable reduction was achieved in 37 hips (15 Graf type D and 22 type III) right after the help of Pavlik harness, in seven hips (6 type III and 1 type IV) two weeks after the help of Pavlik harness; the remaining seven hips (2 type III and 5 type IV) failed to reach stable reduction after two weeks.
Conclusion:
The anterior hip ultrasound (van Douveren's method) can be used to detect the reduction and stability of hip after Pavlik harness treatment in children with DDH. The majority of Graf type D and III hips can achieve a stable concentric reduction right after the help of Pavlik harness, while severely dislocated type IV hips have a low success rate for harness treatment, and abandonment of harness therapy should be considered in early stage.
