Abstract
The use of targeted ultrasound screening for ‘at risk’ hips in order to reduce the rate of surgery in developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) are unproven. A prospective trial was undertaken in an attempt to clarify this matter.
Over an 8-year period, there were 28,676 live births. Unstable and ‘at risk’ hips were routinely targeted for ultrasound examination. One thousand eight hundred and six infants were ultrasounded, 6.3% of the birth population.
Twenty-five children (18 dislocations and 7 dysplasias) required surgical intervention (0.87 per 1000 births for DDH / 0.63 per 1000 births for dislocation).
Targeted ultrasound screening does not reduce the overall rate of surgery compared with the best conventional clinical screening programmes. The development of a national targeted ultrasound screening programme for ‘at risk’ hips cannot be justified on a cost or result basis.
Local Host: British Society for Children’s Orthopaedic Surgery. Conference Theme: Congenital Deficiencies of the Lower Limb. These abstracts were prepared by A.Catterall.
