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

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.