The correlation between anatomical preparations and MRI images of the most important structures of newborn hips in coronal and axial orientation was performed in 18 post mortem babies. T1-weighted images present a good differentiation between cartilage, bone, ligaments and surrounding soft tissues. Coronal images give the best opportunity to study the clinically important structures of the roof of acetabulum including the labrum and the ground of the acetabulum. The latter is shown in a more detailed way by MRI than by sonography. Axial images allow additional examinations of the ventral and dorsal parts of the joint. By using both coronal and axial images the exact determination of the centering of the femur head in the hip joint is possible.
A special holder was developed for examination of the infant hip joint using MRI. This holder allows the infant hip joint to be examined both in a neutral position and in various defined functional positions. A special integrated surface coil, also developed for this purpose, provides the high spatial resolution required for assessment of the fine joint structures. Thirty infants were examined and the new device has proved useful in advanced hip dysplasia, therapy-resistant subluxation and luxation, and for operative therapy planning (reconstruction of the acetabular roof, redirectional osteotomies). Interpretation errors due to misprojection can be eliminated to a large extent since the holder allows standardized and reproducible positioning.
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