Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is the commonest musculoskeletal condition diagnosed in neonates. Two previous studies showed no statistical advantage with the addition of ultrasound to clinical screening. In the UK, the Standing Medical Advisory Committee (SMAC) (1969) recommended clinical examination at birth and at 6 weeks. The Newborn Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) (2008) guidelines in addition advised ultrasound scanning for clinically unstable hips or for those with risk factors (breech presentation or family history).

We compared SMAC and NIPE in the two main hospitals of the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust: Burnley General Hospital (BGH) and the Royal Blackburn Hospital (RBH), respectively. Our outcome measure was the number of irreducible hip dislocations over a two year period (2007–2008).

The records of the lead Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon were used to identify all cases of irreducible hip dislocations born in 2007 and 2008. Maternity records provided information on birth statistics. Syndromal cases were excluded from further analysis.

BGH had 5382 live births and 7 irreducible hip dislocations (incidence 1.3/1000 births). 4/7 met SMAC recommendations and 6/7 met NIPE guidelines. 2/7 had equivocal clinical examinations at birth. 13 children were referred to the clinic with unstable hips (2.42/1000 births).

RBH had 7899 total births and 3 irreducible hip dislocations (incidence 0.38/1000 births). 2/3 met NIPE guidance and 1/3 met SMAC recommendations. 33 were referred to the clinic with unstable hips (4.18/1000 births).

The difference in the numbers of irreducible hips did not reach statistical significance (p=0.12).

This study found no statistically significant advantage with the addition of selective ‘at risk’ ultrasound screening to clinical screening alone. Confounding factors in this study included the age of referral of cases to clinic and the numbers of cases referred as primary instability. These findings are in keeping with two previous studies in Norway.