Prevalence of trochlear dysplasia in infants evaluated for developmental dysplasia of the hip

The purpose of this study was to define the incidence of trochlear dysplasia in an infant cohort being screened for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).

Newborns screened for DDH that were evaluated with ultrasound for the presence of trochlear dysplasia were retrospectively reviewed. The sulcus angle and trochlear depth were measured. Based on previous work, trochlear dysplasia was defined as a sulcus angle of > 159°. Our newborn cohort was then analyzed to identify potential risk factors for trochlear dysplasia.

A total of 383 knees in 196 infants were studied. In total, 52% were referred for breech intrauterine positioning and 21% were ultimately diagnosed with DDH and had treatment initiated with a Pavlik harness. Of the entire cohort, 8% of knees were deemed to have trochlear dysplasia. Breech patients were found to have a flatter sulcus angle than those that were not breech (149.5° (sd 7.2°) versus 147.9° (sd 7.5°); p = 0.028). Similarly, a shallower trochlear depth was identified in breech patients versus non-breech patients (1.6 mm (sd 0.4) versus 1.8 mm (sd 0.4); p = 0.019). Those with trochlear dysplasia (as defined by sulcus angle > 159°) did show a smaller alpha angle (i.e. more dysplastic hip) as compared with those without trochlear dysplasia (59.2° (sd 10.2°) versus 65.9° (sd 7.5°); p < 0.001). Hips with DDH were 2.4-times more likely to have knees with trochlear dysplasia (95% confidence interval 1.1 to 5.3).

Ultrasound screening of newborn knees reveals that trochlear dysplasia is relatively common in breech babies with DDH.

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