Clinical aspects of imaging the hip in infants, children and adolescents

Abstract

When achild with ahip problem is clinically evaluated, it is usually possible to make apresumptive diagnosis which is subsequently confirmed. The most important tool for confirmation in pediatric hip disorders is radiological imaging. Vice versa changes on sonogram, native X‑ray or magnetic resonance images (MRI) can often only be interpreted when the history and current clinical findings are known. In this constellation, it is desirable that all colleagues who are confronted with achild's hip problem know the most common and important pediatric hip disorders and use the same terminology. The aim of this article is to present ashort outline of the pathogenesis and clinical aspects of congenital and neurogenic hip dysplasia, coxitis fugax, septic coxitis, Perthes' disease, infantile and adolescent femoroacetabular impingement, apophysiolyses, and slipped capital femoral epiphysis.