Ultrasound of hip joint in newborns and infants

Background. Ultrasound of the newborn hip is now a standard procedure in the diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Together with clinical examination give us full information about the newborn hip.
Material and methods. In the Clinic of Orthopaedics Medical University of Lodz the ultrasound examination of the newborn hips begun in 1983 and about 2500 examination are performed each year. The own material consisted of 35 000 newborns hips examined because of DDH. During the examination special attention was payed to the risk factors of the DDH. As a standard the ultrasound examination was performed in the first week of the life and at the age of 4 months. The linear transducer of 7.5 MHz in newborns and 5 MHz in neonate hip was used.
Results. The signs of dysplasia were found in 5,6% of all examined hips. The most frequent type of dysplasia was type II according to Graf classification - 75% of all dysplastic hips. Type IIc was diagnosed in 5%. Dysplasia types with decentration was recognized in 20% dysplastic hips. The treatment differed from type of dysplasia and the age of the child. In the treatment diapers, Freyka pillow, Pavlik splint were used. The overhead traction and surgical treatment was used in selected cases. The time of the rebuilding of the dysplastic hip depended on the type of dysplastic hip and for the type IIa - 4-6 weeks, for type IIc and d from 6 do 12 weeks, for type IIIa - 8-14 weeks, type IIIb - 13-16 weeks, and for type IV - 12 do 24 weeks. In 5% of all examined hips surgery was recommended.
Conclusions. The ultrasound examination of the newborns hips is a standard procedure in diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of DDH. The examination should be performed in the first weeks of life. Further cooperation between orthopaedic surgeons and pediatrician is necessary.