This foundational course covers the essential principles of diagnosing developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) using the Graf method. Participants will learn to interpret ultrasound images accurately and identify key indicators of DDH. This course is ideal for professionals seeking to strengthen their diagnostic capabilities.

One of the main causes of misdiagnosis in infant hip sonography is the errors that occur due to poor quality hip ultrasound, resulting from the deterioration in teaching standards. Formal courses in hip sonography have been replaced in many centres by informal “bedside teaching” and as a result, errors creep in and are then passed on to new practitioners.

ESSENTIALS OF INFANT HIP SONOGRAPHY (R. Graf, K. Lercher, S. Scott, T. Spiess) is the manual intended to give guidelines for both the instructor and the student. It provides a step-by-step teaching programme with regular checks of what has been learned. The manual includes only the basics, emphasizing the essential facts. The scientific background can be found in the referenced literature (see page 35).

The Graf method relies heavily on standardized techniques and protocols to ensure accuracy. Proper training and adherence to these protocols are crucial to minimize the risk of errors and potential legal problems. Legal disputes can occur if a child suffers long-term consequences due to delayed or inadequate treatment, as a result of diagnostic mistakes due to improper imaging techniques or incorrect interpretation of ultrasound images.

Would you like to receive the printed version of the manual free of charge? Just ask for it here!

It is strongly recommended to use Graf's cradles for scanning efficiently and delivering a correct diagnosis to patients, as mentioned in the reference manual ESSENTIALS OF INFANT HIP SONOGRAPHY (R. Graf, K. Lercher, S. Scott, T. Spieß), p. 25:

"To perform quick and accurate scanning, a standard position for the infant and a standard scanning technique are needed. Used in combination with the cradle, the probe guide has proved very effective and facilitates scanning the infant hip, reduces scan time and considerably raising the level of precision.

By correctly positioning the infant and using the probe guide system, tilting errors can be virtually eliminated."

The Training Phantom has the ultrasound anatomy of a 6-week-old infant and is an important tool which offers training opportunities for pediatricians, radiologists and orthopedists. Before working on real infants, trainees can repetitively practice on the Phantom to become familiar with the examination procedures and key points. Using real ultrasound devices, trainees can learn key ultrasound landmarks to identify standard plane for Graf’s classification. This is a foundation to acquire skills in handling and positioning of the baby as well as correct positioning of the transducer.