Examining for a Dislocated Hip in Infants

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In many countries clinical examination is the primary screening tool to identify dislocated hips in newborns, with a positive screening examination typically triggering an ultrasound assessment of the hips. However, the condition is rare and the examination can be difficult to perform. We explore the key components of the examination - symmetry of limb length, symmetry of abduction and consider the ’special tests’ of instability, known as the ‘Barlow’ and ‘Ortolani’ maneuvre. However, given the rarity of the disease, even in expert hands for every 1000 newborn hips screened with the clinical examination, relying on the Barlow and Ortolani maneuvres will identify 5 dislocations, result in 13 “unnecessary” ultrasound scans and 4 missed diagnoses. For every 1000 newborn hips screened with limited hip abduction, the system would identify 1 dislocation, result in 33 “unnecessary” ultrasound scans and 8 missed diagnoses per 1000 newborn hips.