Difficulties of early diagnosis and treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip in Northern Ireland.

Present efforts to eradicate congenital dislocation of the hip are based on tests for neonatal laxity ofthejoint. It is hoped that by arresting the disorder at this stage established dislocation may be avoided. The Ortolani and Barlow tests are simple enough but difficult to standardise and not always easy to perform. The screening of all babies in a widespread community therefore presents many problems in organisation and education before the difficulties of effective treatment arise.