The effect of early diagnosis of congenital dislocation of the hip.

The effects of early diagnostic measures of congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) in Malmö during the years 1956-1972 were investigated. Of 58759 newborns 548 were diagnosed as having CDH. Only 4 cases were missed at the initial examination. Thus, all, or almost all, children with CDH can be diagnosed at birth provided that the initial examination is undertaken within 24 or 48 hours.