Values for bony acetabular roof angle and percentage femoral head cover in a selective ultrasound neonatal hip-screening programme: effect of age, sex and side.

Published maturation curves for bony acetabular roof or angle (AA) and percentage femoral head cover (FHC) with age are sparse. We aimed to determine typical values for AA and FHC in 2236 infants referred to a selective ultrasound screening programme. There was increase in the values of first measurement of AA and FHC related to the logarithm of age. Males had greater values than females (P<0.001) and right hips had greater values than left (P<0.001) for both measurements. Significant side differences have not been reported previously. Treatment decisions should be made on the basis of sex, side and age-specific data.