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Published on: July 2, 2021
Comparison of normal and abnormal human fetal hip joints: a quantitative study with significance to congenital hip
Insights
Quantitative analysis of fetal hip development reveals subtle abnormalities not visible to the naked eye. This aids in early detection of hip dysplasia in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Fetal development
- Orthopedic research
- Congenital abnormalities
Background:
- Congenital hip disease diagnosis relies on physical examination and imaging.
- Subtle hip abnormalities in fetuses can be challenging to detect.
- Establishing normative data for fetal hip development is crucial.
Observation:
- Abnormalities were noted in hips of fetuses with congenital deformities and in some seemingly normal fetuses.
- Six hips showed abnormalities upon gross examination, while others presented dysplasia upon measurement.
- Femoral angle measurements alone were insufficient for diagnosing hip dysplasia.
Findings:
- Quantitative measurement data identified hip dysplasia in fetuses where visual inspection showed normal or only mildly abnormal hips.
- Abnormalities included subluxation and marked deformity, resembling congenital hip disease.
- Many abnormal hips had measurement values exceeding normal limits by 2 standard deviations.
Implications:
- Quantitative data enhances the detection of fetal hip dysplasia, even when not apparent visually.
- This approach allows for more precise evaluation of morphologically abnormal fetal joints.
- Early detection through quantitative analysis may improve management of congenital hip disease.
Abstract:
The presence, extent of abnormality, and measurement data in hips from six fetuses with congenital deformities and seven normal fetuses with 12 aberrant hips were compared with similar data from 140 normal fetuses. Six hips were abnormal on naked eye examination in fetuses with polycystic kidneys, multiple deformities, or cyclopia. Hips graded normal in two fetuses with cardiac defects were found to have dysplasia, greater on the left side, when measurement data were compared. Aberrant features observed resembled that reported in congenital hip disease. Although no joints were frankly dislocated, six hips were subluxated with marked deformity. Only two assessed abnormal hips did not have values outside normal limits for their comparison age group, and joints from six fetuses had some values that exceeded normal limits by 2 SD. In only two fetuses were the femoral angle values outside normal limits indicating that femoral angles alone may be poor criteria of hip dysplasia. Quantitative data for normal fetuses permit more precise evaluation of morphologically abnormal joints and enable detection of dysplasia not apparent on naked eye examination.
