Sonographic neonatal screening of the hip joint--luxury or necessity?
Tschauner, C.; Klapsch, W.; Graf, R.
Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Kinderheilkunde 138(8): 429-433
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-9298 PMID: 2215504 Document Number: 364320
Based on the ultrasound investigation of 19,666 babies (1981-1988), 6341 of them directly at the maternity ward, we picked out the group of sonographically unstable or decentered hip joints, which must be treated instantly. Almost 50% of these hips did not show any clinical signs of instability! At follow-up the subgroup of sonographically screened hip joints showed optimal results after consequent earliest treatment: 100% physiological results of CE-angle (Wiberg and Engelhardt), no femoral head necrosis. Ultrasound screening is the only tool to detect definitely all newborn hips requiring therapy. Earliest treatment is the pre-condition of anatomical healing up. Thus--a general sonographic newborn screening is indispensable.