Hip Dysplasia in Newborns: Early Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.51572122610065

• Palavras-chave: developmental hip dysplasia; newborns; early diagnosis; pediatric orthopedics; congenital hip dislocation.

• Keywords: developmental hip dysplasia; newborns; early diagnosis; pediatric orthopedics; congenital hip dislocation.

• Abstract:

  Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in newborns is one of the most common congenital orthopedic conditions in pediatric practice, characterized by instability of the hip joint, ranging from ligamentous laxity to complete hip dislocation. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent future complications, such as gait abnormalities, chronic pain, and early-onset osteoarthritis. The aim of this study is to review the scientific literature on the main risk factors, diagnostic methods, and therapeutic strategies related to DDQ in newborns. This is a narrative literature review conducted through the analysis of scientific articles available in the PubMed, Scielo, Virtual Health Library (BVS), and Google Scholar databases, published between 2014 and 2025. The results demonstrate that factors such as female sex, breech presentation, oligohydramnios, and family history are strongly associated with the condition. Hip ultrasound stands out as the primary complementary method for diagnostic confirmation in neonates. Conservative treatment, especially with the use of the Pavlik harness, has a high success rate when initiated early. It is concluded that systematic neonatal screening and early diagnosis are essential for reducing functional sequelae and improving the prognosis of affected patients.