ABSTRACT
The term developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), coined by Klisic in the late 1980s, has replaced the term congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) to reflect spectrum of abnormalities in the development of the hip joint, ranging from mild acetabular dysplasia to irreducible dislocation. Broadly, DDH is classed into four groups on the basis of a combination of clinical and sonographic examination: reduced and stable but dysplastic; reduced but dislocatable; dislocated but reducible; and dislocated and irreducibile. It is clear that treating DDH is more complicated with a less favourable outcome the later the diagnosis is made and so significant resources have been applied to achieve early diagnosis by screening. Clinical screening is clearly sensible, but debate persists on the specific benefits, compared to cost and risk of over-treatment, of selective or universal ultrasound screening. Closed reduction is performed by longitudinal traction, flexion and abduction of hip while lifting the greater trochanter anteriorly towards the acetabulum.
