Screening for Congenital Hip Dislocation—An Overview

Developmental dysplasia of the hip, previously known as congenital dislocation of the hip, is the most common congenital disease of the musculoskeletal system in newborns. It corresponds to a complete or partial displacement of the femoral head out of the acetabulum. The incidence is around 1:1000 births and it depends on multiple factors (region, family history, gender, mechanical factors, or some specific neonatal conditions). Screening may be by universal neonatal clinical examination (Ortolani or Barlow maneuvers) with the addition of sonographic imaging of the hip (selecting the patients who present abnormalities detected by physical examination or risk factors, and universal screening in the neonate). This screening is recommended at the discharge of newborns in most maternity hospitals in Romania.