Development of an electronic navigation system for elimination of examiner-dependent factors in the ultrasound screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip in newborns

ABSTRACT To develop an electronic navigation system to increase reliability and comparability in the ultrasound screening of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). The impact of the

navigation system on transducer positioning and on sonographic measurements according to Graf was analyzed. Twenty hips in newborns were examined sonographically using a new navigation

system capable of detecting the transducer and pelvis position in order to calculate the relative tilt in the frontal, axial, and sagittal-plane. In each newborn an ultrasound image was

obtained conventionally according to Graf and a second image using the sonographic navigation system. Relative roll and pitch angles and sonographic measurements were analyzed using paired

T-tests and Levene-tests. Relative tilt angles in the conventional group ranged from − 8.9° to 14.3° (frontal-plane) and − 23.8° to 14.2° (axial-plane). In the navigation-assisted group

ranges from − 3.0° to 3.5° and − 2.8° to 4.5° were observed. Variances were significantly lower in the navigation-assisted group (_p_ < 0.001 and _p_ = 0.004 respectively). The navigation

system allowed for a significant reduction of relative tilt angles between the transducer and the newborn pelvis, thus supporting an optimal transducer positioning. This is a promising

approach to improve reproducibility and reliability in the ultrasound screening for DDH. SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS MEASUREMENT ACCURACY OF THE ACETABULAR CUP POSITION USING AN

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TRIMESTERS OF PREGNANCY Article Open access 23 October 2024 INTRODUCTION The ultrasound screening according to Graf is broadly accepted as the gold standard for the early detection of

developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in newborns1,2. This method is based on a high degree of standardization of the sonographic examination to ensure reproducibility of the results3,4.

Despite these efforts, examiner-related factors have been discussed to potentially influence incidence rates of DDH measured sonographically5. Thus, examiner-related factors were addressed

using assistive devices such as a mechanical transducer guiding device, a positioning aid for the baby (cradle) and most importantly well-structured training of the examiners6,7. In regard

to examiner-related errors the relative tilt between the examined hip and the ultrasound transducer is a key factor, which has been shown by Jaremko et al. using 3D ultrasound imaging8.

Moreover, the effect of relative tilt angles between hip joint and transducer has also been analyzed using Graf’s method, which is as a gold standard performed routinely by 2D ultrasound

imaging, based on an optoelectronic motion capture system9. Here the effect of the relative tilt angles on sonographic measurements and furthermore on the DDH classification according to

Graf proved to be highly significant9. However, the reported optoelectronic motion capture system setup was not capable of determining the position of the newborn’s hip or pelvis, which is a

major disadvantage limiting further analyses in routine use. The aim of this study was to develop a new electronic navigation system to minimize examiner-related errors in regard to

relative tilt angles between the ultrasound transducer and the examined hip joint and to analyze effects of such a system on relative tilt errors in comparison to the conventional ultrasound

screening according to Graf. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was approved by the institutional review board of the Medical University of Vienna. All methods were carried out in accordance

with relevant guidelines and regulations. All legal guardians gave their informed consent prior to the inclusion in this study. A new electronic navigation system was developed at our

institution in order to detect potential examiner-related influences and errors (see Fig. 1). The microprocessor-based system consists of two position sensors, one of which is attached to

the ultrasound transducer using a 3D printed adapter whereas the other one is attached epicutaneously in a median position dorsal to the sacrum (see Fig. 2). Both position sensors are

composed of an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometer (MPU-9250, InvenSense Inc., San Jose, CA, USA). A specifically designed software program processes the measurements and

calculates the relative tilt between both sensors in the frontal, axial and sagittal plane respectively representing the roll, pitch and yaw angle (see Fig. 3). The afore-mentioned

measurements are hence communicated to a PC-based output software, which stores the data and depicts the angles to assist the navigation. The measurement accuracy of the roll and pitch angle

was determined to be ± 1° and for the yaw angle it was determined to be ± 2°. A patent application for this system has been filed10. Ten consecutive newborns (20 hips) were included into

the study and screened sonographically by a single experienced examiner according to Graf’s method within the first neonatal week. Ultrasound screening was performed using a GE Logiq F8

series system and a 7.5-MHz LH linear transducer (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI, USA). The examination was performed in lateral position using a special positioning device (Sono-Fix, Gebrüder

Hirschbeck GmbH, Austria) as recommended by Graf7. A feed-and-sleep technique was used to reduce spontaneous movements of the newborns during the measurement. For every examined hip joint

two ultrasound images were obtained. First, an ultrasound image was obtained according to the sonographic criteria described by Graf6 (conventional group). Second, an additional ultrasound

image was obtained using the navigation system in addition to Graf’s sonographic criteria to optimize the transducer position according to the displayed tilt angles (navigation-assisted

group). If no representative image could be obtained due to agitation of the newborn the collection of data was aborted. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Data were processed using the SPSS Statistics 26

software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Normal distribution of parameters was evaluated using Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests. Relative roll, pitch and yaw angles between transducer and pelvic

were analysed using paired t-tests and Levene-tests. Because of the coarsening nature of classification systems sonographic α- and β-angels were analyzed directly using paired t-tests11. The

level of significance was defined as _p_ < 0.05. RESULTS The feed-and-sleep technique used to reduce spontaneous movements was sufficient in all examined newborns. In seven of the ten

newborns both hips were measured according to the study protocol, in three newborns only one hip was measured due to increasing spontaneous movements during the examination. Thus, in total

data from 17 hips (34 ultrasound images) were obtained according to the study protocol. In the conventional group, where sonographic images were obtained without navigation-assistance,

relative tilt angles between transducer and pelvis ranged from − 8.9° to 14.3° (roll angle measured in the frontal plane) and from − 23.8° to 14.2° (pitch angle measured in the axial plane).

In the navigation-assisted group relative tilt angles ranged from − 3.0° to 3.5° (roll angle in the frontal plane) and − 2.8° to 4.5° (pitch angle measured in the axial plane) respectively

(see Table 1). Levene’s test of variance showed significant differences in the relative tilt angles in the frontal and axial plane with lower variance in the navigation-assisted study group

(roll angle, _p_ < 0.001; pitch angle, _p_ = 0.004). The testing for mean values in the frontal and axial plane yielded no significant differences (roll angle, _p_ = 0.678; pitch angle,

_p_ = 0.666). A visualization of the measured relative roll and pitch angles in both groups is given in Fig. 4. The afore-mentioned yaw angle (measured in the sagittal plane) could not be

used for navigation due to the lack of validated basis data for the definition of a target value, thus no testing between conventional and navigation-assisted group was performed for this

parameter. The mean value for the yaw angle showed a rotation of the ultrasound transducer versus the sacral sensor plane of 25.1° to the front (ranged from 6.8° to 43.1°). Sonographic

results according to Graf’s grading system were type I in 14 (82%) and IIa in 3 (18%) hips. Mean alpha angles were 62.6° (range 57–68°) in the conventional group and 61.6° (range 55–67°) in

the navigation-assisted group; mean beta angles were 65.5 (range 55–73°) and 63.3° (range 48–75°). Differences of sonographically measured alpha and beta angles between the two groups were

not significant (_p_ = 0.255 and _p_ = 0.312). DISCUSSION Several recent reports have highlighted the importance of correct ultrasound transducer positioning in relation to the pelvis to

achieve reliable results in the ultrasound screening for DDH8,9,12. Furthermore, a susceptibility of Graf’s method to relative tilt errors was discussed intensively9,13. Despite the fact

that reproducibility and reliability of Graf’s method was proved to be sufficient for screening purposes when repeated measurements on given ultrasound images are analyzed14, the importance

of an optimal transducer positioning in the ultrasound examination prior to this step was reported. In an experimental study it has been shown that Graf’s sonographic criteria allow notable

inclinations of the transducer position, which leads to significant alterations of the sonographic measurements9. These findings were supported by reports based on 3D ultrasound confirming

the importance of an optimal positioning of the transducer plane8,12. However, these previous reports have focused on an optimal transducer position (i.e. measurement plane) without

capturing the pelvis position. This represents a major limitation considering the importance of relative tilt angels between transducer and pelvis (i.e. hip joint). Based on this

consideration, the presented electronic navigation system was developed, which is capable to detect both, the pelvis and the transducer position, in order to overcome this limitation. As a

main result this study demonstrates that the variance of relative tilt angles between the pelvis and the transducer can be reduced significantly using the electronic navigation system (see

Fig. 4): In detail, our results showed this effect for both navigated angles i.e. the roll angle measured in the frontal plane and pitch angle measured in the axial plane (see Fig. 3). In

contrast, considering the mean values of the relative tilt angles, there was no significant difference between the conventional and the navigation-assisted study group. Therefore it can be

concluded that the navigation system enables a more accurate alignment of the ultrasound transducer to the pelvis (reduced variance), while the principle of alignment remains unchanged

compared to the sonographic method according to Graf (mean tilt angles in the frontal and axial plane around 0°). As a consequence, the electronic navigation system seems promising for

minimizing the majority of relative tilt errors. However, it has to be considered that this finding is based on one experienced examiner; further studies are required to test the effect on

mean angles for examiners of different experience levels. In comparison to mechanical devices supporting the transducer in order to avoid transducer tilts as recommended by Graf (“Sono

Guide”) the first evident advantage of the electronic navigation system is the detection of the pelvis position. From our experience, the spontaneous pelvis position of newborns in lateral

position tends to be tilted frequently even using a cradle-like positioning aid for the baby as suggested by Graf. Such tilted pelvic positions are not detected in the conventional set-up,

leaving the correction of such misalignments to the experience of the examiner. A further advantage of the electronic navigation system is the possibility to use the 3D-position-data for

documentation of a correct examination process. Besides the potential practical applicability of the electronic navigation system in the ultrasound screening for DDH, the detection of

3D-position-data are of further interest in this research field. While the alignment in the frontal and axial plane (roll and pitch angle) is defined to be parallel (target value of 0°

between transducer and pelvic sensor in these planes), there is no defined target value for the sagittal plane (yaw angle) representing the angle between the optimal transducer position and

the sensor position epicutaneous to the dorsal sacrum plane. Thus the relative yaw angle could not be used for navigation in this study. However, the device is capable of determining the yaw

angle as shown, which might be used in further studies to optimize the transducer position also in the third plane. LIMITATIONS Due to the cohort size the effect of the presented navigation

system on ultrasound measurements could not be definitely assessed. CONCLUSION The presented electronic navigation system is a novel approach to further improve the methodological

reliability and quality of ultrasound screening for DDH. As the main result the system proves to be efficient to significantly reduce tilt errors. Further studies are required to prove the

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INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of Orthopedics and Trauma-Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria Alexander Kolb, Catharina Chiari, Markus Schreiner, Stephan

Heisinger, Madeleine Willegger, Gregor Rettl & Reinhard Windhager Authors * Alexander Kolb View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar *

Catharina Chiari View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Markus Schreiner View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed

 Google Scholar * Stephan Heisinger View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Madeleine Willegger View author publications You can also search

for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Gregor Rettl View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Reinhard Windhager View author publications You

can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CONTRIBUTIONS A.K.wrote the main manuscript text and prepared all figures. G.R. produced the 3D printed parts. A.K., C.C., M.W., M.S.

and S.H. contributed to the data collection and analysis. A.K., C.C. and R.W. contributed to the study design. All authors reviewed the manuscript. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to

Alexander Kolb. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest. One of the authors (RW) has received

institutional funding from Stryker, DePuy Synthes Austria, Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited, Medacta, Zimmer Biomet Gmbh. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PUBLISHER'S NOTE Springer Nature

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visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Kolb, A., Chiari, C., Schreiner, M. _et al._ Development of an electronic

navigation system for elimination of examiner-dependent factors in the ultrasound screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip in newborns. _Sci Rep_ 10, 16407 (2020).

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73536-9 Download citation * Received: 06 April 2020 * Accepted: 14 September 2020 * Published: 02 October 2020 * DOI:

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