[Ultrasound diagnosis of hip dysplasia--current status and future perspectives].

Hip sonography provides a safe pathoanatomical assessment of a newborn hip joint at the earliest possible moment. Based on this safe diagnosis an adequate biomechanical treatment can be started instantly. The mean age of healing even of originally decentered hip joints is 7.5 months, if earliest sonographic diagnosis and adequate biomechanical treatment are performed correctly. Secondary hip surgery can be reduced to a minimum. Cost-benefit-analysis, too, supports the institution of a general sonographic screening of all newborn hip joints.