Bilateral hip dysplasia. A case report.

BACKGROUND

Hip dysplasia affects 1% of newborns. Our health system screening begins at birth, and our educational system requires health screens at various ages, so physicians in this country rarely find an adult with an undiagnosed congenital condition.

CASE: Bilateral hip dislocation was diagnosed on a 20-year-old, nulliparous woman who had just arrived from Puerto Rico. She tolerated her abnormal gait well, unaware of the condition of her hips. After an unremarkable prenatal course, she was admitted at term with ruptured membranes for stimulation of labor. She developed secondary arrest of labor, and a healthy, 3,180-g, female infant was delivered by cesarean.

CONCLUSION

In hip dysplasia, early diagnosis (and therapy) prevents long-term consequences.