Search

The osseous acetabular index (OAI) and cartilaginous acetabular index (CAI) is often used in diagnosing acetabular dysplasia (AD) in children. We examined the reliability of OAI and CAI in AD diagnostics and compared OAI measurements obtained from radiographs versus MRI. Four raters performed retrospective repeated measurements of the OAI and CAI on pelvic radiographs and MRI scans of 16 consecutive patients (mean age 5 years (2–8)) examined for borderline AD during a period of 2½ years. In MRI, the image selected for analysis by the raters was also registered. Spearman’s correlation, scatter plots, and Bland–Altman (BA) plots were analysed for correlation between OAI on pelvic radiographs (OAIR) and MRI scans (OAIMRI), while intra- and interrater reliability was assessed for OAIR, OAIMRI, CAI, and MRI image selection using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). ICC values for inter- and intrarater reliability of OAIR, OAIMRI, and CAI were all above 0.65, with no significant differences observed. ICC values (CI) for individual raters’ MRI image selection was 0.99 (0.998–0.999). The mean difference (95% CI) between OAIR and OAIMRI was −0.99 degrees (−1.84; −0.16), while the mean absolute difference (95% CI) between OAIR and OAIMRI was 3.68 degrees (3.17; 4.20). Absolute differences between OAIR and OAIMRI was independent of pelvic positioning or time interval between radiographs and MRI scans. OAI and CAI had high Intrarater reliability but mediocre interrater reliability. There was an absolute difference of 3.7 degrees in OAI between pelvic radiographs and MRI scans.

The pubo-femoral distance (PFD) has been suggested as an ultrasound screening tool for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). The aim of this study was to examine if midwives undergoing minimal training could reliably perform pediatric hip ultrasound and PFD measurements. Eight recruited midwives performed two rounds of independent blinded PFD measurements on 15 static ultrasound images and participated in four supervised live-scanning sessions. The midwives were compared to a group of three experienced musculoskeletal radiologists. Reliability was evaluated using inter-rater correlation coefficients (ICC). Linear regression was used to quantify the learning curve of the midwives as a group. There was near complete intra- and inter-rater agreement (ICC > 0.89) on static ultrasound images across both rounds of rating for midwives and radiologists. The midwives performed a mean of 29 live hip scans (range 24–35). The mean difference between midwives and supervising radiologists was 0.36 mm, 95% CI (0.12–0.61) for the first session, which decreased to 0.20 mm, 95% CI (0.04–0.37) in the fourth session. ICC for PFD measurements increased from 0.59 mm, 95% CI (0.37–0.75) to 0.78 mm, 95% CI (0.66–0.86) with progression in sessions. We conclude that midwives reliably perform PFD measurements of pediatric hips with minimal training.