Is there a difference between the epidemiologic characteristics of hip dislocation diagnosed early and late?

OBJECTIVE

To determine if there are epidemiologic differences between patients with early and late developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH).

DESIGN

A chart review.

SETTING

A university-affiliated children's hospital.

PATIENTS: Two hundred and forty-three children, 191 with early DDH and 52 with late DDH.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sex, side involved and prevalence of bilaterality.

RESULTS

There were significant differences between the two groups with respect to side involved (p < 0.0002) and bilaterality (p = 0.006) but not in relation to sex. Left-sided dislocations were predominant in the early group and right-sided dislocations in the late group. Bilaterality was more common in the late group.

CONCLUSION

There is circumstantial epidemiologic evidence that late DDH may be a different entity from early DDH.