[Results of ultrasonographic screening. An epidemiological study].

The possible influence of early harness treatment for hip dysplasia--a treatment made possible by hip sonography according to Graf--on the incidence of hip luxations was examined in an epidemiological study. In a region with 8,000 births per year three periods were investigated: the pre-ultrasonographic era with 19 luxations per year (2.2/1000), the introductory era with 11 (1.3/1000) and the last period with 6 luxations so far (0.8/1000). A diagnosis can now be made at an earlier time due to the possibility of viewing the hip with sonography, a fact which significantly reduces the amount of hip luxations (pre-ultrasonographic era versus screening era: P = 0.00002), verified by the significant decrease in open and closed reductions.