Frequency of Developmental Dysplasia of Hip Detected by Graf'S Ultrasonographic Method in Icteric Newborns: A Preliminary Study

Limping is a debilitating problem that can be prevented by screening at risk newborns. Jaundice is a problem that brings approximately one fifth of newborns to hospital in early infancy. The aim of this study was to find out whether the newborns with physiologic jaundice are at an increased risk of developing developmental dislocation of hip and whether it is logical to screen these newborns with Graf’s ultrasonographic method. Throughout a year, 320 icteric newborns (640 hips) that referred to Nemazee Hospital Neonatal Emergency Room for checking their bilirubin were screened by Graf’s ultrasonographic method for developmental dislocation of hip (DDH). Any newborn with other problems such as congenital anomalies were excluded form this study. Of the 640 hips, 21 newborns (3.28%) had a dysplastic hip (Class IIa) that needed follow up and 12 from them came back for follow up of hip ultrasongraphy, all of whom became normal (Class Ia) without treatment. Only 1 hip did have severe dysplasia (Class IIc) (.16%) that needed treatment at the time of discovery. The rate of DDH seems not to increase in the newborns with physiologic jaundice. It seems not to be logical to screen newborns with physiologic jaundice with Graf’s ultrasonographic method, if screening is not cost-effective.