Apparent or true neonatal hip dislocation? Radiologic differential diagnosis.

A case of neonatal separation of the proximal femoral epiphysis secondary to obstetric trauma is presented. The radiologic differential diagnosis, as in other cases of neonatal dislocation of the hip, included congenital and septic dislocation of the hip and epiphyseal separation - so-called apparent dislocation. When clinical and laboratory signs are minimal or equivocal, x-ray films and, in difficult cases, contrast arthrograms are needed for an accurate diagnosis of neonatal dislocation of the hip.