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Congenital Dislocation and Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
How is it treated?
Most children who have slight instability of the hip at birth will get better on their own without the need for specific treatment. Nonetheless it is important to try to identify these children to ensure that the expected improvement occurs.
If developmental dysplasia of the hip is recognised early it can nearly always be treated simply by a splint which may need to be worn for six to twelve weeks. This keeps the baby's hips flexed and out sideways. This is a position in which the hip is most likely to develop satisfactorily.
Sometimes, however, these simple splints do not work and the baby's hip does not become stable and grow normally. Some children's hip problems are not detectable at birth or in early infancy and it is not until they begin to walk that a limp is detected which highlights the problem. For older children treatment is usually a little more difficult. Sometimes it is possible to put the hip safely into joint and hold it in a plaster cast. Sometimes it is necessary to release some slightly tight tendons in the groin through a small incision and occasionally it is necessary for an operation to put the hip safely in the socket. After such an operation it is usual to put the child in a plaster of Paris or fibre glass plaster which extends from the waist down to the ankles or feet.
Whenever children have been treated for Congenital Dislocation of the Hip (CDH) or Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) it is very important that they are carefully followed up for a long time to make sure the hip grows properly. Occasionally another operation is necessary as they grow older if the socket fails to grow properly.
How is it diagnosed?
| Inheritance patterns and prenatal diagnosis 
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