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Age-dependent arthrosonographic reference values of the hip joint in healthy children and adolescents – a cross-sectional multicenter ultrasound study

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Abstract

Background

Musculoskeletal US is a noninvasive imaging method for diagnosing and monitoring inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Objectives

To develop age- and gender-related arthrosonographic reference intervals for the hip joint of healthy children and adolescents.

Materials and methods

In a cross-sectional US study, we examined both hip joints of 445 children and adolescents with an age range of 1 year to 18 years. We measured the distance between the bone surface and the outer margin of the joint capsule to define the bone-capsule distance, the joint capsule and cartilage thickness, and the capsule layer thickness. Reference values were calculated. The shape of the joint capsule and bone-capsule junction zone were analyzed qualitatively. An intraobserver analysis was performed.

Results

Bone-capsule distance, capsule thickness and the anterior capsule layer increase with age. In contrast, joint cartilage decreases. The posterior capsule layer exhibited constant thickness across all age groups. The difference between both body sides and gender was collectively less than 0.5 mm. The intraobserver variations were within the calculated reference intervals. The insertion of the capsule to the bone was mostly a peaked one. The capsule shape had a convex or straight configuration in a neutral position and a concave position during outward rotation. The intraobserver analysis revealed good to very good concordance.

Conclusion

We propose age- and gender-related reference intervals for the bone-capsule distance, joint capsule and cartilage thickness of the hip.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the children and adolescents and their parents who took part in the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Campus Charite Mitte and Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany

    Ralf Felix Trauzeddel

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University Medicine Gießen, Feulgenstraße 10-12, 35392, Gießen, Germany

    Hartwig Lehmann

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Asklepios Hospital Weissenfels, Naumburger Straße 76, 06667, Weissenfels, Germany

    Daniel Windschall & Christine Nirschl

  4. Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology, North-Western German Centre for Rheumatology, St. Josef-Stift Sendenhorst, Westtor 7, 48324, Sendenhorst, Germany

    Gerd Ganser & Katharina Palm-Beden

  5. St. Marien Children’s Hospital, Grillparzerstraße 9, 84036, Landshut, Germany

    Rainer Berendes

  6. Pediatrics and Adolescents Practice, Alte Bundestraße 37, 79194, Gundelfingen, Germany

    Maria Haller

  7. German Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology, Gehfeldstraße 24, 82467, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

    Manuela Krumrey-Langkammerer

  8. Pediatric Practice, Am Kleistpark 1, 15230, Frankfurt/Oder, Germany

    Antje Nimtz-Talaska

  9. Pediatric Practice Dr. Simon & Philipp Schoof, Cosimastraße 133, 81925, Munich, Germany

    Phillip Schoof

  10. Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Helios Hospital Berlin – Buch, Schwanebecker Chaussee 50, 13125, Berlin, Germany

    Ralf Trauzeddel

Authors
  1. Ralf Felix Trauzeddel
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  2. Hartwig Lehmann
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  3. Daniel Windschall
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  4. Gerd Ganser
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  5. Rainer Berendes
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  6. Maria Haller
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  7. Manuela Krumrey-Langkammerer
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  8. Katharina Palm-Beden
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  9. Antje Nimtz-Talaska
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  10. Christine Nirschl
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  11. Phillip Schoof
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  12. Ralf Trauzeddel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ralf Felix Trauzeddel.

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Conflicts of interest

This study was supported by a grant from Pfizer Pharma. The funder had no involvement in the study design, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, in the writing of the report or in the decision to submit the paper for publication. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Trauzeddel, R.F., Lehmann, H., Windschall, D. et al. Age-dependent arthrosonographic reference values of the hip joint in healthy children and adolescents – a cross-sectional multicenter ultrasound study. Pediatr Radiol 47, 1329–1336 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-017-3862-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-017-3862-5

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