ULTRASOUND SCREENING AND RADIOGRAPHS IN DDH-5 YEARS EXPERIENCE AT A DISTRICT GENERAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

Introduction (Statement of purpose): Majority of the hips that are borderline on ultrasound progress to normal development subsequently, making the use of routine radiographs in follow up unnecessary. We present our experience in the last 5 years at the Musgrove Park Hospital in the management of borderline DDH

Materials and Methods: We studied 1452 patients who underwent an ultrasound examination for suspected DDH at Musgrove Park Hospital between January 1998 and December 2003. Ultrasound examination is performed in babies at a high risk for DDH or those who have abnormal hips on clinical examination at birth.42 babies were diagnosed to have dislocated or dislocatable hips and were treated with a harness. 239 babies, who had borderline dysplasia, had a repeat ultrasound at 6 weeks. Those with persistent borderline dysplasia had a radiographic and clinical examination at 6 months

Results: 60 patients were reported as borderline on follow-up ultrasound and underwent radiographs at 6 months.49 cases had normal radiographs and were asymptomatic.3 patients had mild dysplasia and were followed up for 18 months before being discharged as normal.3 patients were lost to follow up.4 cases presented late and had to undergo surgical procedures

Conclusion: No patients having borderline dysplasia on ultrasound developed symptomatic hip dysplasia. Routine radiographs are probably unnecessary in the follow-up of babies with borderline dysplasia on ultrasound except Graf 2c stages, which are important to recognise. Selective ultrasound screening is likely to fail in picking up some cases in the population (0.016%)