Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), its risk factors, and the relationship between prematurity and DDH in infants aged 0-6 months who were brought to a university hospital orthopedic clinic for DDH screening. The hip ultrasonography records of 722 infants aged 0-6 months who presented for DDH screening were retrospectively reviewed. Among these infants, 341 (47.2%) were female, 381 (52.8%) were male; 64 (8.9%) had a positive family history; 95 (13.2%) were premature; 350 (48.5%) had been swaddled; 335 (46.4%) were delivered vaginally, and 384 (53.2%) were delivered by cesarean section. There were 21 infants (2.9%) from multiple pregnancies and 21 infants (2.9%) with a breech presentation. The findings, consistent with existing literature, showed that cesarean delivery, female sex, first birth, swaddling, and positive family history increased the risk of DDH, while breech presentation and birth weight did not show a significant association. Furthermore, similar to other limited studies, our data suggest that prematurity may have a protective effect on hip development. Hip ultrasonography results were classified according to the Graf method: right hip: 0.7% type Ia, 98.5% type Ib, 0.3% type IIa, 0.1% type IIb, 0.4% type III; left hip: 1.0% type Ia, 98.1% type Ib, 0.6% type IIa, 0.1% type IIb, 0.1% type D, 0.1% type III. Delayed ossification was detected in 2 infants, and subluxated hips were identified in 5 infants, all treated with a Pavlik harness. The prevalence of DDH in Tokat province was found to be 0.9%, lower than the reported national DDH rate in Turkey (1-1.5%). In conclusion, raising public awareness about DDH, ensuring timely and appropriate screening programs, and educating about the harms of traditional practices like swaddling are essential. This study emphasizes the importance of healthcare professionals having accurate knowledge of DDH and effectively informing families to minimize complications from late diagnosis or treatment.

Keywords:Developmental dysplasia of the hip; Prevalence; Prematurity; Ultrasonography; Risk factors