The predictive value of the clinical sign of excessive hip abduction for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH)

Abstract

Aim To assess the relationship between the clinical sign of excessive hip abduction (abduction of the hip 90 degrees or more) and developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Methods The research was conducted on 450 newborns in the Neonatal Unit at the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics and the Clinic of Orthopedics and Traumatology of the University Clinical Centre, Tuzla, between 30th August 2011 and 30th April 2012. Clinical (degree of hip abduction) and ultrasound examination of all newborns hip were performed using the Graf method on their first day of life. Results Clinical sign of excessive hip abduction showed significant predictive value for DDH. There were 37 (8.2%) newborns with the clinical sign of excessive hip abduction, of which 13 of them had DDH while 24 of them did not have this clinical sign. There were 89 newborns, in the overall sample, with one of the forms of DDH, 13 (12.7%) of them had this clinical sign, while from 324 newborns witouth DDH, 24 (6.9%) had this clinical sign. Excessive hip abduction had a positive predictive value (PPV) of 35.1% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 78.5% for DDH. Conclusion Excessive hip abduction is an useful and important clinical sign of DDH. Doctors who perform the first examination of the child after birth, would have to turn their attention to this clinical sign. The newborns with this clinical sign would have to go to an ultrasound examination of the hips for further diagnosis.