HIQA has found that the evidence relating to the effectiveness of universal compared to selected ultrasound screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) was too limited to allow it to make a clear conclusion on the added value of universal screening.
At the request of the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC), HIQA examined the evidence on the effectiveness of universal ultrasound screening for DDH.
In 2017, recommendations were published for a selective ultrasound screening programme for DDH in Ireland. HIQA said it was unclear the extent to which these recommendations had been applied across hospitals in Ireland. It was possible that a better understanding of current practice for the identification of DDH in infants would help with future implementation of the 2017 recommendations; this would be with a view to a formal screening programme with appropriate oversight, end-to-end care, quality assurance, and monitoring of outcomes.
