Abstract
Background Congenital hip dislocation (luxation) has an incidence of 0.4 – 0.7% and is regarded
as a prearthrotic deformity. Thus, if not being diagnosed and treated at a very early
age, extensive surgical measures are inevitable in childhood and early adulthood.
Methods In the time between 01/2013 and 02/2019 we performed 28 600 hips sonographies in
babies as part of general screening measures at U2 or U3. There were 71 instable,
dysplastic or dislocated hips diagnosed that were treated by arthrographic, closed
reduction. After a hip spica cast was applied, reposition was controlled by MRI, estimating
the acetabular head index (ACI), the head coverage index (HCI) as well as the femoral
headʼs sphericity or by sonography using the Graf method.
Results Overall success rate was 91.6% for primary closed reduction. Patients with primarily
irreducible hips were significantly older (p < 0.003) than patients with primarily
successful reducible hips. Congenital dislocated hips had significantly higher ACIs
(p < 0.001) and HCIs (p = 0.03) as well as significantly less well rounded femoral
heads (sphericity; p < 0.001) compared to stable hips.
Conclusion Early diagnosis and treatment of congenital dislocated hips by closed reduction is
essential for a sufficient and regular maturation of the hips without further surgical
interventions.
Key words
DDH - closed reduction - ACI - HCI - hip luxation