[Our Experience with 15 000 USG Examinations of Hip Joints in Children.]

The authors examined between May 1988 and April 1992 more than 15 000 hip joints. In the submitted paper they present the statistically processed results of 14 296 ultrasonographic (USG) examinations of hip joints of children evaluated according to Professor Graf's s method. For the USG examination they elaborated their own procedure and computer programme which fully replaces the card index and dispensary and makes statistical processing of the results possible. The authors demonstrate on their own group that USG examination can replace X-ray examination, if the child is subjected to two USG examinations. They submit for discussion the necessity of clinical examination during the sixth week of the infant. They also draw attention to the necessity of perfect knowledge of the examination technique and high standard training courses. They mention a marked decline of pathological X-ray findings of examinations after the age of three months due to USG screening of the hip joints in neonates. Key words: congenital dysplasia of the hip joint, ultrasonographic examination.