MONDAY, July 6 (HealthDay News) -- Screening of all newborns for hip dysplasia with a physical exam, along with ultrasound for high-risk infants, appears to be the best of three options for improving the chance of having a non-arthritic hip later in life, according to research published in the July 1 issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Susan T. Mahan, M.D., of the Children's Hospital Boston, and colleagues used expected-value decision analysis to assess the effects of three strategies on the best chance of having a well-functioning, pain-free hip to at least the age of 60 years.
The researchers discovered that the expected value of a favorable outcome was 0.9590 for universal screening with physical exam, as well as selective use of ultrasonography; 0.9586 for universal screening with both methods; and 0.9578 for no screening for developmental dysplasia. A lower value indicates a higher risk of osteoarthritis due to dysplasia or avascular necrosis.
"The difference in expected value between the selective ultrasound strategy and the universal ultrasound strategy would mean that 1656 fewer infants born in 2005 would have development of arthritis if the selective screening strategy was used instead of the universal screening strategy," the authors conclude. "Similarly, a comparison between the no-screening option and the selective screening option indicates that 4969 fewer infants born in 2005 would have development of early severe hip arthritis if the selective screening strategy was used instead of the no-screening strategy."
At least one author received funding or grants from Siemens Medical Solutions.
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