Late-Presenting Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Investigators from multiple institutions in the United Kingdom conducted an observational cohort study to assess the incidence and characteristics of late-presenting irreducible developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). All infants referred to a regional pediatric orthopedic clinic from 1997–2011 with DDH were included. This was the referral clinic for all infants identified by the regional DDH screening program, a program that required a clinical hip exam for all infants within 48 hours of birth and referral within 1–2 weeks for those with clinical hip instability (ie, positive Ortolani or Barlow maneuvers) and 6–9 weeks for those without hip instability but with DDH risk factors present (ie, breech birth and/or family history).

All referred infants had risk factors confirmed, hips reexamined, …