[Correlation of clinical signs and X-ray findings in congenital dysplasia of the hip].

Drawing on unselected case histories of 650 children (2-12 months) the authors study the frequency of dysplasia of the hip from the orthopedic and pediatric points of view. The X-ray findings for dysplasia are classified in terms of different degrees of severity and compared with clinically demonstrable symptoms of dysplasia. This comparison showed 88 (13.5%) cases of dysplasia diagnosed on the basis of X-ray findings; 32 (4.9%) of these presented no clinical symptoms whatever. This would mean that more than one third of all cases of dysplasia are not detected clinically when there is only a single examination. Even when the under-three-months age group is excluded, we must still assume 3.3% clinically inconspicuous cases of dysplasia. This situation makes for considerable difficulty in diagnosing dysplasia of the hip. In view of well-known delayed effects of this disease, the authors urge that it be diagnosed as throughly and comprehensively as possible. As an improved approach to dealing with this problem, they recommend regular pediatric examinations plus obligatory orthopedic check-ups of every infant and X-ray examination wherever there is the slightest suspicion of congenital dysplasia of the hip.