Neonatal Hip Ultrasound Screening

What Is Hip Dysplasia?

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) previously known as Congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) is a problem with the way a baby's hip joint develops. It happens around the time of birth and can affect one hip or both.

If diagnosed early, most treated cases will go on to have a normal life with no long term hip problems.

Who can get Hip Dysplasia?

Any baby can suffer from DDH. But there's a higher risk in babies who:

• are first-born
• girls
• breech presentation (legs-down instead of head-down)
• have a parent or sibling with the condition

How Is Hip Dysplasia Diagnosed?

• The best way to diagnose hip dysplasia is using Ultrasound – similar to the scan performed during pregnancy – it is perfectly safe, with no radiation and extremely sensitive for the condition.
• Ultrasound works best under the age of 4-6 months but is ideally performed before 6 weeks of age because the earlier treatment is started, the more likely it is to be successful.
• Doctors will look for signs of hip dysplasia during the examination before discharge from the hospital or during well-baby clinics, and should advise anybody with risk factors to have a screening scan too.

How Is Hip Dysplasia Treated?

The baby will be referred to a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon. Treatment for babies younger than 6 months is usually with a special brace called a Pavlik harness. It holds the baby's legs into a position that keeps the ball of the hip in the socket.

Treatment with the Pavlik harness lasts 6–12 weeks. Most babies won't need other treatment.

Baby Screening

Hip ultrasounds can be combined with other screening scans such as Spine ultrasound (to exclude spina bifida), Kidney ultrasound and Brain ultrasounds.