[Echotomography diagnosis of congenital hip dysplasia. Experience with 1120 cases]

The congenital hip dysplasia is based on an abnormal acetabular rim, with pathologic capsula and ligaments. These pathologic structures can lead to the subtotal or total dislocation of the hips. In newborns the joint cartilaginous structures, can be visualized by sonography and it is possible to diagnose the different grade of dysplasia. Our series, in part previously selected, consist in 1120 joints. The results in newborns up to 3 months of age are: normal joints 79.5%, immature 10.7%, pathologic 9.8%. After 3 months of age: normal joints 93%, dysplastic 5.2%, subdislocated 0.6%, dislocated 1.2%. In all the cases we used the morphologic Graf technique and in newborns also the dynamic examination according to Novick to precise the minimal degree of the instability of the hips. Sonography permits an early diagnosis of hip dysplasia without false positive or negative results.