Correlation of anatomy and ultrasonographic images in the infant hip: an experimental cadaver study

An experimental study was performed to correlate images of the infant hip obtained by ultrasonography with documented anatomic relationships. Two term stillborn neonatal cadavers were studied by imaging approaches used clinically. Specific anatomic structures were marked with echo-dense metal. The dissected cadaver hip joint was imaged in located and dislocated positions while immersed in a water bath. The results of the studies confirm the accuracy of ultrasonography in visualizing the cartilaginous structures of the infant hip joint. The experimentally obtained images correlate well with images obtained clinically.