Study on multiplanar measurements of infant hips with three-dimensional ultrasonography

An automatic evaluation technology based on artificial intelligence and three-dimensional ultrasonography (3D US) is proposed for hip US inspection plane selection. This study aimed to evaluate the consistency of the α angle as measured using 3D US to select the section plane and two-dimensional ultrasonography (2D US) to manually select the Graf image, as well as to explore the feasibility of diagnosing developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) using 3D US and reconstruction technology.

A total of 216 infant hips were included and assessed by doctors using 3D US layer-by-layer. The researchers used a computer to identify the coronal images that met the Graf standard and then compared the α_X values obtained with the α_G values measured artificially by 2D US.

Compared with 2D US, 3D US more clearly showed the relative positions of the ilium, ischia, and pubis. The measured α value of the optimal section obtained by 3D US showed good agreement with the measured α value of the standard Graf section.

The artificial intelligence and 3D US-based automatic evaluation technology for section selection and inspection for DDH showed good agreement with the Graf method based on standard sections.