[Use of ultrasonography in the diagnosis and monitoring of the treatment of congenital hip dysplasia in infants].

On the basis of 1892 ultrasonographic examinations of 1582 hip joints in 633 girls and 158 boys aged from 10 days to 12 months, the author presents the method and its significance for objective of diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the congenital dysplasia of the hip. He performed the examinations and evaluated the sonograms using the method provided by Graf. The most significant clinical symptoms of dysplasia of the hip are the increased antetorsion of femoral neck, as well as the Ortolani and Barlow symptom. However, in spite of their presence in 58 cases, the ultrasonographic image has not shown any abnormal development of the joint. At the same time, the author has disclosed the occurrence of a minimal percentage of dysplasia (7%), with no noticeable symptoms detected by the clinical examination. At present, the suspicion of hip joint dysplasia based on the clinical examination, should be confirmed by ultrasonography before starting the treatment, in order to avoid the harmful consequence arising from the therapy of the normally formed joints. The performed examinations have proven that ultrasonographic representation of hip joints is the most precise and objective diagnostic method. Its employment in the first days of the newborns' lives is of great significance for congenital dysplasia prevention.