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Congenital Dislocation and Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
How is it diagnosed?
Babies undergo routine examination of their hips at different ages. At birth they are checked by two tests called the Ortolani and Barlow tests. The baby is laid on his or her back and the hips are gently taken sideways. It is usually possible for a baby's hips to be takenfully out sideways. If the baby's hip does not move as fully as this it may be that the hip is not developing properly and further investigations and checks are necessary. In a young baby further investigation is usually by ultrasound but in an older child x-rays are more commonly helpful in establishing the diagnosis. The GP or clinic doctor will check the hips again at around six to eight weeks.
The Ortolani and Barlow Tests are not one hundred per cent accurate. This means that sometimes there is a false alarm, where the baby appears to have a hip condition. However, further tests may show that in fact she or he does not have the condition.
It also means that sometimes a problem may not be picked up even if it is present. So even if a baby has had a hip check and was found to be OK, there may still be a problem; any concerns should be brought to the attention of a health visitor or GP. Do not assume that because the check was 'normal', there cannot be a problem.
Research has shown that parents are good at detecting hip problems, but often delay seeking advice because of uncertainty. However, treatment is usually less complex the earlier it is started, so if there are concerns parents should talk to the Health Visitor or GP as soon as possible.
What are the causes?
| How is it treated? 
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