Early detection of developmental dysplasia of the hip in the Netherlands: The validity of a standardized assessment protocol in infants

Objectives. This study evaluated the validity of the traditionally recommended screening protocol for developmental dysplasia of the hip in infants. Methods. Study children (n=1968) underwent a standardized screening examination. Results. The incidence of developmental dysplasia of the hip was 3.7%. The sensitivity of the test protocol was 86%, the specificity was 82%, and the predictive values of positive and negative tests were 16% and 99%, respectively. Conclusions. The validity of the screening protocol for developmental dysplasia of the hip is disappointingly low. The yield of adding an ultrasonographic examination to current screening activities needs further study.