Hip dysplasia

Background: Hip dysplasia is one of the most common malformations in childhood and has a significant impact on the further life of those affected. A distinction must be made between congenital and the much rarer acquired dysplasia. Early diagnosis and therapy are pivotal for further development of patients. Objectives: The paper gives an overview of current radiological possibilities of diagnosis with focus on congenital hip dysplasia supplemented by insights into therapeutic options. Materials and methodsBasic and review papers were analyzed. Results: Clinical examination of the newborn has low sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of hip dysplasia. The introduction of Graf ultrasound screening has significantly improved the early detection of dysplastic hips. With the help of sonography, but also magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the shape of the acetabulum and the position of the femoral head in the socket can be precisely and quickly determined, while X-ray examinations have their place especially in the context of follow-up examinations after treatment from the age of 1 year and in the diagnosis of secondary dysplasia. Therapeutic options range from spreading treatment to open reduction with fixation in the newborn as well as conversion osteotomy in older children. Conclusion: Early detection of hip dysplasia is critical to the course of treatment. The right choice of examination method and correct performance are essential for further treatment.