Ultrasound, radiographs, and clinical symptoms in developmental dislocation of the hip: a study of 170 patients.

We evaluated ultrasound findings in developmental dislocation of the hip in relation to clinical signs, risk factors, and radiographic measurements. The ultrasound rating was determined according to the method of Graf. An ultrasound rating > IIa was considered abnormal. The risk factors corresponding best with an abnormal ultrasound were breech delivery (42.8%) and familial occurrence (21%). For the clinical findings, the risk factors corresponding best were abduction < 50 (42.5%) and asymmetric skinfolds in patients (26.4%). The radiographic evaluation showed more abnormal findings, but there was no statistical difference between the overall ultrasound and radiographic results.