Normal development of the hip: a geometrical analysis based on planimetric radiography

Abstract

The existing studies on the development of the hip joint predominantly focus on either the acetabulum or the proximal femur. This paper investigates the parallel geometrical development of both, the proximal femur and the acetabulum during growth. Six hundred and seventy-five hips with an age from 9 months to 16 years were studied by means of planimetric radiography; angles and lever arms were determined. Although the apophyseal angles remain virtually unchanged throughout growth, the epiphyseal angles and the neck-shaft angle undergo typical changes until the age of 10 years. Subsequently, there are no major changes in the angular conformation of the proximal femur, whereas acetabular coverage and its centric alignment continue to develop further until the end of skeletal growth. The load and muscle lever arms increase until the end of growth with their ratio remaining constant after the age of 10 years. We present correlated data on the geometrical development of the acetabulum and the proximal femur. The interpretation of our findings is to some extent limited by the two-dimensionality of planimetric radiography. Our results do, however, support the timing of corrective osteotomies of the proximal femur relatively soon after the age of 10 years.

Sex Differences in Cartilage Topography and Orientation of the Developing Acetabulum: Implications for Hip Preservation Surgery

“…Prior histologic studies have described the complexity of the acetabulum at the cellular level [12,13]. Multiple studies have described the development of the bony acetabulum throughout childhood and adolescence using radiographs and two-dimensional cuts from CT scans [2,5,9,17]. MRI studies have described the development of the acetabular labrum [7], the appearance of secondary ossification centers of the ilium and pubis [19], and have recently characterized the irregular ossification pattern of the posterior wall/ischial secondary ossification center [4].…”

Midterm Results After Subtrochanteric End-to-Side Valgization Osteotomy in Severe Infantile Coxa Vara

“…Only technically acceptable images were included. Thirty distances, angles, and indices known from the literature 21 to function as surrogates of the growing hips' morphology, biomechanics, and reactions of the epiphyseal plates to pathological morphologic changes and their biomechanical effects, were assessed.…”

Coverage of Femoral Head at Weight-Bearing Interface of the Hip Joint in Children: An MRI Analysis

“…A geometrical analysis of normal development of the hip by planimetric radiography indicated development of acetabulum and femoral head finished at about 10 years old [1]. However, there is always uncertainty in measureing bony parameters for unsure margin of the bony acetabulum [10].…”

“…The normal development of a child's hip is the result of synchronized growing of acetabulum and femoral head [1]. Conventional radiography and computed tomography have long been the major imaging techniques in diagnosing developmental hip diseases [2,3].…”