[The influence of ultrasonography on the diagnosis and treatment of so-called congenital hip dislocation].

By means of a retrospective analysis of the hospital reports of 107 children with 131 dislocated hips we investigated the influence of ultrasound examination on the diagnosis and therapy of congenital dislocation of the hip. We could show, that although the ultrasound examination had increased since 1985 the number of dislocated hips receded only little. However the diagnosis was made earlier in children who had been examined by ultrasound. In these children operative reposition of the dislocated hip had to be performed less frequently compared to the unexamined children. Several case reports are given to demonstrate typical faults in ultrasound diagnostics and treatment of congenital hip dislocation. Our results support the call for a general ultrasound screening of the newborn hip.