title: Screening of children with congenital dislocation of the hip joint on the maternity wards in Sweden.
abstract: In Sweden screening for congenital dislocation of the hip joint (CDH) on the maternity wards was commenced in the 1950s. Of the estimated number of cases with CDH approximately 50% are diagnosed on the maternity wards and 80% during the first 6 months of life. Of the children "missed" at the primary screening on the maternity wards a substantial number have been premature babies treated at the intensive care unit postpartum. X-ray examination at the age of 1.5-3 months has been a helpful tool to reveal failure of early abduction treatment, which has been difficult to detect by clinical examination. Children with neonatal hip instability and a family history of CDH seem to represent a subgroup with an increased risk of failure of primary treatment and may need prolonged abduction treatment. The von Rosen splint has proved to be a reliable brace if used properly. If abduction treatment is commenced already during the first few days of life the risk for avascular necrosis is very low--1%.
mesh_terms: D001915:Braces; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006618:Hip Dislocation, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008403:Mass Screening; D013548:Sweden