Measurement of acetabular anteversion in developmental dysplasia of the hip in children by two- and three-dimensional computed tomography.

This study assessed the angle of acetabular anteversion (AA) in 66 children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (132 hips: 24 left, 25 right, 17 bilateral and 49 unaffected hips as controls). The AA was measured by two- and three-dimensional computed tomography (2D-CT and 3D-CT). Measurements were taken by three observers and repeated 2 weeks later by one of these observers. Intra- and inter-observer agreement was analysed using the intra-class correlation coefficient. For all hips, the mean AA (+/-SD) measured by 2D-CT versus 3D-CT was statistically significantly different (15.76 +/- 5.23 degrees versus 16.76 +/- 4.43 degrees , respectively). The mean (+/-SD) AA by 3D-CT in unaffected and affected hips was also statistically significantly different (13.92 +/- 3.95 degrees versus 18.44 +/- 3.82 degrees , respectively). A significant positive correlation between age at presentation and AA was found in affected, but not unaffected, hips. The 3D-CT showed better intra- and inter-observer agreement than 2D-CT for assessing AA hence is a more reliable measurement of AA. An increased AA is one component of anatomical abnormalities in developmental dysplasia of the hip and the abnormality appears to worsen with age.