title: The natural history of developmental dysplasia of the hip: sonographic findings in infants of 1-3 months of age.
abstract: The natural history of sonographic developmental dysplasia of the hip was determined in a population-based study in which 5170 infants were screened by ultrasound using Graf's method. Of the normal hips at the age of 1 month, 99.6% were still normal at the age of 3 months. Of the immature type IIa/IIa+ and type IIa- hips, if untreated, 95.3 and 84.4% had become normal, respectively. Of the infants with type IIc, D and III/IV hips at the age of 1 month 70, 58.3 and 90.9% were treated, respectively. This study shows that normal hips remain normal in nearly 100% of cases, but development to abnormality is possible. It shows also that most of the immature hips at the age of 1 month become normal without treatment. Although treatment seems to be indicated in the majority of sonographically abnormal hips, the occurrence of overtreatment could not be excluded in our study.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Care Research, University of Twente, Enschede, and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Isala Clinics, Location Weezenlanden, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elisabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Roovers
authors.forename: Magda M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Boere-Boonekamp
authors.forename: Adriaan K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mostert
authors.forename: René M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Castelein
authors.forename: Gerhard A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Zielhuis
authors.forename: Toon H M
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kerkhoff
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006618:Hip Dislocation, Congenital / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014463:Ultrasonography