[Hip ultrasound screening in Mongolia: a Swiss Mongolian Pediatric Project]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Public Health

Background:

• Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) presents a significant disease burden in Mongolia.
• Lack of early detection and treatment methods for DDH in infants has been a historical challenge.
• A Swiss-Mongolian project introduced ultrasound screening for DDH in 2009.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) using hip ultrasound.
• To evaluate the efficacy of early DDH treatment in newborns.
• To assess the feasibility of ultrasound hip screening by trained neonatologists.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of the Reinhard Graf ultrasound method for hip screening.
• Training neonatologists in Mongolia to perform ultrasound hip examinations.
• A pilot study involving a large cohort of newborns (over 8000).

Main Results:

• Trained neonatologists demonstrated proficiency in conducting ultrasound hip screenings.
• Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) can be accurately detected in the initial days post-birth.
• Early intervention using flexion-abduction splinting proved effective in preventing dislocation.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasound hip screening is a viable method for early DDH detection in newborns.
• Early treatment with splinting is crucial for preventing hip dislocation and ensuring normal hip development.
• This approach can significantly reduce the burden of DDH in the studied population.