Objective:

To evaluate the utility of arthrography as a tool in therapeutic decision in developmental dysplasia of hip (DDH).

Material and methods:

19 children with true DDH with age between three months and three years, without previous surgical treatment, with Tonis II or III, and complete X-rays. For each case; therapeutic decision was registered for X-rays and arthrography by three independent observers, we took like standard, surgery in each patient necessary to obtain a concentric reduction and good acetabular coverage.

Results:

20 cases, 19 patients. 18 unilateral, 1 bilateral. They were 17 girls (89%) and 2 children (11%). Average Age: 1 year 3 months (4 months to 2 years 11 months). 11 Tonis II (55%) and 9 Tonis III (45%). The intraclass coefficient of correlation (ICC) in relation to the decision therapeutic radiographic was of 0.8933 and for the arthrography of 0.7205. And ICC of the decision therapeutic radiographic in connection with the standard was of 0.7933 and for the arthrography it was of 0.6219. We confirm that in our 20 cases, the utility of the arthrography (ICC 0.6219), is smaller to the X-rays (ICC 0.7933). The utility of the arthrography was bigger in the patients with Tonis II, and an age between nine months and two years.