The role of community screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip at the 8-month baby check.

BACKGROUND

Screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) after the neonatal period is controversial. Due to recent changes in the screening policy in England & Wales, routine clinical screening for DDH at the 8-month baby check is no longer recommended.

RESULTS

This paper looks at the effectiveness of screening for DDH by health visitors in the Flintshire area. A total of 525 8-month baby checks were performed in our area in 2007. Thirty babies were referred to their general practitioner of which six were referred on to a specialist children's orthopaedic surgeon. None of these required treatment for DDH. One patient who was screened by the health visitor but not referred was later diagnosed with DDH.

CONCLUSION

Screening for DDH at 8 months using clinical examination by a trained health visitor has a high false-positive rate. This paper therefore supports the current UK National Screening Committee position.