Study on Multiplanar Measurements of Infant Hips with Three-Dimensional Ultrasonography.

Purpose 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 alpha 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. Methods 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 alpha(X) values obtained with the alpha(G) values measured artificially by 2D US. Results Compared with 2D US, 3D US more clearly showed the relative positions of the ilium, ischia, and pubis. The measured alpha value of the optimal section obtained by 3D US showed good agreement with the measured alpha value of the standard Graf section. Conclusion 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.