Sonographic Hip Screening and Early Management of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

The reliability of Grafʼs technique in diagnosing developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is investigated in this report. In a prospective study, 6,548 neonates were examined clinically and sonographically; 470 children were reexamined at least once. Sonographic a angles and radiographic acetabular index (AI) angles were followed up and compared. Results were as follows84.6% of the hips were mature; 14.3% were physiologically immature; 1.1% were dysplastic. Of the sonographically dysplastic hips, 63% were clinically normal. Neonatal sonographic hip status was affected by family history, breech delivery, birth weight, and gestational age. At follow- up, none of the primarily mature hips had worsened. Of the type Ha hips, 89% matured spontaneously, and 11% needed abduction. The 68 dysplastic hips had matured after a maximum of 80 daysʼ abduction, with normal α and AI angles by the end of treatment. At 1 year, the pitch had deteriorated again in six children. Grafs sonographic technique reliably diagnoses infantile DDH. Regular orthopedic checkups are needed to detect secondary deterioration of dysplastic hips.