Early ultrasound diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip

The results of ultrasound diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in several studies of 1,000 and 1,332 consecutive patients, performed according to Graf's method from 1984 to the present, are presented. Prior to 1984 the authors used radiography exclusively in suspected cases of DDH, however, the change from radiography to ultrasonography resulted in significant improvement in the ability to diagnose and treat DDH. Different standard methods of treatment have been developed for the management of each morphological type of the newborn's and infant's hip. Ultrasound is more sensitive than clinical assessment for diagnosing DDH since it detects the dysplastic morphology of the hip when Ortolani's test is negative. Instability can be demonstrated directly. The success of treatment of DDH depends on the time of diagnosis the early diagnosis obtained by ultrasound screening can significantly improve the results of treatment.