Background
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) includes a spectrum of abnormalities ranging from dislocated hip and mild subluxation to fixed dislocation. It is still controversial whether screening for hip dysplasia should be performed for all infants less than 6 months. The Graf method for hip ultrasonography (US) is the most widely used imaging modality. The aim of our present study is documentation of DDH prevalence in apparently healthy infants less than 6 months, who were screened by the hip US to evaluate the value of general or selective screening programs.
Patients and methods
This study was performed at the outpatient clinics of a major University Hospital in the period between January 2018 and January 2019. Asymptomatic infants under the age of 6 months have been subjected to full history taking and US examination. Three hundred and twenty-three hip joints of 170 infants were examined by the US machine, Mindray model DP-2200 using a high-frequency linear transducer.
Results
Normal hips were observed in 252 (78%) hip joints. Immature hips, class IIa, were observed in 47 (14.6%). Twenty-four (7.4%) hips were abnormal (type IIb, IIc, IIIa, and IIIb hips). Abnormal hips include IIb type, 12 (3.7%) joints in 11 infants, IIc type only one (0.3%) joint, IIIa type in four (1.2%) joints in 4four infants, and IIIb type seven (2.2%) joints in five infants.
Conclusion
DDH is a common problem of newborns in our society, so we recommend hip US for the detection and follow-up of DDH in newborns.