Developmental dysplasia of the hip: background and the utility of ultrasound.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a spectrum of hip joint abnormalities ranging from joint laxity to dislocation. If untreated, DDH may lead to early degenerative arthritis. Ultrasound (US) is the primary imaging for evaluation of DDH in the first months of life, however, there is no consensus on the optimal use of US for screening for DDH. We will address the background of DDH, including the controversy regarding screening, as well as US technique, anatomy and findings in a normal hip and a hip with developmental dysplasia. 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.