Ultrasound Screening of the Newborn for Congenital Dislocation of the Hip Joint

Early detection of CDH is the first step for the early treatment which is crucial to obtain good results. Ultrasonographic examination using Linear Scan (7.5MHz) was performed in 2644 hips of newborn infants from January 1986 to September 1991, divided into three groups by Graf's classification as folows: Group A: type I a, b or type II a with more than 55° α-angle was determined according to the initial examination (632 infants). Other infants were reexamined within 2～5 weeks after the first examination and classified into group B: types less severe than type II a^+ (128 infants) or group C: types more severe than type II a^- (28infants). In all group, the results of ultrasonographic examination were compared with the radiological examination, both performed at the age of 3 months. The results of the initial examination at newborn infants were 1522 hips (59.4%) in I a and b, 929 hips (36.1%) in II a and 115 hips (4.5%) in II c, III and IV exclusive of poor sonograpic pictures of 41 infants (3.1%). The results of group A were 1241 hips (98.2%) in I a and b, 23 hips (1.8%) in II b, group B were 245 hips (95.7%) in I a and b, 11 hips (4.3%) in II b. In group C, 19 infants, 38 hips were treated using an abduction brace, but 9 infants, 18 hips were not treated. Treated infants in group C were 32 hips in I b and 6 hips in II b, non-treated infants in group C were 4 hips in I b, 11 hips in II b, 2 hips in II c and 1 hip in D. No dysplasia was noted radiologically in the group A, B and treated infants in group C. Of 18 non-treated hips 13 were radiologically demonstrated dysplasia of the hip. Ultrasonic examination is a practical and useful tool for the CDH screening of newborn infants