Late diagnosis of congenital dislocation of the hip.

A cohort of children presenting with clicking hips was studied in two districts. In one district any child with a clicking hip was treated as though the hip was dislocated, i.e. by splintage in abduction, but in the other district no treatment was offered. None of the 'treated' group later presented with a dislocated hip, whereas four children were found with dislocated hips among the 'untreated' group. A further four children who were not treated because their hips appeared to be normal on the second examination later presented with dislocated hips. It is suggested that the accuracy of diagnosis in all units might be improved if the examination of the newborn was carried out by a limited number of doctors to whom greater experience would accrue. Further improvements would be made if any hip which was found to click on examination was treated as an unstable hip and splinted in abduction.