Early detection of developmental dysplasia of the hip in The Netherlands: the validity of a standardized assessment protocol in infants.

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the validity of the traditionally recommended screening protocol for developmental dysplasia of the hip in infants.

METHODS

Study children (n = 1968) underwent a standardized screening examination.

RESULTS

The incidence of developmental dysplasia of the hip was 3.7%. The sensitivity of the test protocol was 86%, the specificity was 82%, and the predictive values of positive and negative tests were 16% and 99%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The validity of the screening protocol for developmental dysplasia of the hip is disappointingly low. The yield of adding an ultrasonographic examination to current screening activities needs further study.