If your newborn has hip dysplasia
Children
born with hip dysplasia have a shallow hip joint that can move easily.
Over
time, the problem can lead to pain, one leg being shorter than the other, and
arthritis. But if you find and treat it early, many children can have a normal
hip joint and have no other problems.
The
goal of treating hip dysplasia is to bring the "ball" of your child's
femur back into the cup-shaped hip socket where it belongs. Your doctor may do this
in different ways.
Pavlik harness
This
soft, flexible harness gently aligns your child's hips, allowing their legs to
move a little. They will probably wear it for about 12 weeks, but you may be
able to take it off for diaper changes and bathing.
Your
doctor will check the fit of your seat belt every week or two. An imaging test,
such as an x-ray, will show if and when the joint is improving.
If the
Pavlik harness helps, chances are your child's hip will stay healthy. However,
your doctor may want to test this again when he is older.
Fixed-abduction brace
Like
the Pavlik Harness, this special brace keeps your child's hip in the correct
position so it grows as it should. The difference is that this brace is very
stiff and doesn't allow much movement.
Your
doctor may choose this splint if the Pavlik harness does not help.
Von Rosen Splint
This
splint keeps your child's hips bent more than 90 degrees when their legs are
extended. They will need to wear it for 6-12 weeks, even while bathing. When a
newborn wears it in the first week of life, the von Rosen splint has a success
rate of over 95%.
Traction
Hip
dysplasia in newborns is sometimes treated with traction. While your child is
lying on his back, a system of weights and blocks keeps his legs in an elevated
position. The idea is that it stretches the ligaments and helps hip surgeries
work better later, but not all doctors agree that this works.
Surgery
If a
splint or splint doesn't help, your doctor may recommend surgery when your baby
is at least 6 months old.
The
most common operation is called "closed reduction". First, your child
will be given medication to make them sleepy. The surgeon then gently inserts
the "ball" of her hip joint into the hip socket, where it belongs. No
cutting required.
After
closed reduction, your child will need to wear a tight bandage for at least 3
months until their joint heals. This is often followed by a fixed outlet rail.
Both provide support as they restore strength and mobility to the hips.
Closed reduction does not work in about 10-20% of children. If so, your doctor may opt for "open reduction". This is a more complex operation. With a small incision, your doctor can adjust muscles, reshape bones, or loosen tight tendons that may be causing problems. They can also adjust your child's hip so that the top of the thighbone is properly positioned.