Detection of congenital dislocation of the hip by an early screening program, with particular reference to false negatives.

The incidence of hip abnormality was investigated in 11,980 children born at Hope Hospital, Salford, between 1975 and 1978. Of 179 neonates (14.9/1,000 livebirths) found to have an abnormal hip, only 22 (1.8/1,000 livebirths) required treatment with an abduction splint. Despite this high detection rate of hip abnormalities, 10 children (0.83/1,000 livebirths) presented with late congenital dislocation of the hip, i.e., CDH diagnosed after the age of six weeks. It is suggested that the hips should be reexamined in all children at the age of six to seven months.