[Ultrasound screening of the infant hip]

The sonographic screening of the hip has led to a marked decrease in treatment of children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (ddh) as inpatients. The prognosis for this disorder has greatly improved in the past few years due to early diagnosis and correspondingly early beginning of therapy, in many cases by using simple therapeutic methods. This undisputed success has been achieved with a high treatment rate in comparison with international practice (6.4%). The expectancy of reducing the number of checks, and thus costs, by deciding on the 4th to 6th week of life as the time for screening has not been met.