Congenital hip dislocation: before and after walking age.

Residual morbidity from congenital dislocation of the hip is for the most part preventable. Prevention is possible, however, only by establishing the diagnosis early and undertaking treatment which leads to stable reduction and avoids complications. To attain these goals, hip examination whould be a routine part of all newborn care. When dislocation is found in a newborn and early treatment initiated, the anatomic abnormalities are minimal, the dislocation is rasily reduced, and the treatment is simple. When diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the soft-tissue and bony abnormalities become established and therapy becomes more complicated.