Prevention of Developmental Dislocation of the Hip: Practices and Problems in the United States

The terms developmental dysplasia and dislocation of the hip are currently used in an effort to eliminate the temporal term congenital. The new terms imply that many hip dislocations are not identifiable until weeks or months after birth. This imposes a responsibility for the physician to persist in early diagnostic efforts and especially to recognize high-risk infants. Ultrasound is very helpful when competent ultrasonographers are available. Many problems in early diagnosis exist in the United States because of factors relating to physician and parent education as well as to the widespread, especially rural, population. If progress is to be made in prevention, these problems must be addressed.