Introduction: Hip dysplasia is the elementary form of the developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). The diagnosis may be made by the ultrasound examination (types II a-, II b).
Objective: The aim of the authors was to define the congenital structural neonatal hip dysplasia, and to differentiate hip hypoplasia, hip dysplasia and teratogenic anomalies.
Methods: In all the cases, the uniform clinical and ultrasound tests were performed. All the patients were examined in the neonatal period of life (the first six weeks). The following clinical tests were used: Le Damany-Ortolany, Coleman-Barlow-Palmen and Weissman-Strinović. For the ultrasound examination, the Graph's method was used.
Results: The investigation was performed in the period 2007-2008. 2,878 neonates were included. The distribution of the sonotypes, according to Graph, was as follows: Ia in 16.17%. Ib in 65.08%; IIa+ in 18.17%, IIc in 0.28%, IId in 0.19%; IIIa in 0.009%, IIIb in 0.02%; and IV in 0.01%. It was found that DDH was 8 times more frequent in girls; located more frequently at the left side than bilaterally.
Conclusion: Hip sonoscreening has to be performed in all newborns in the first 72 hours. The suggested follow-up period is six weeks: for the diagnosis--the first three weeks, and for the prevention and treatment--all six weeks.