How to Detect Developmental Dysplasia of the Hips

Developmental dysplasia of the hip is a term used to describe a range of conditions affecting the hip joint. Mild cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip are when the muscles and ligaments around the hip joint are looser than usual allowing the femur to move around in the hip joint more than normal. In severe cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip the femur is able to come partway out of the hip socket. Risk factors for for developmental dysplasia of the hip include a family history of the condition and a baby's position in the womb. So, how can you tell if your young child has developmental dysplasia of the hip? Testing of the hip joints is typically performed right after birth, but, if for some reason you find yourself wondering if your child may be suffering from DDH that may have been missed by the doctor's, then follow the steps below to try and recognize it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Detecting It In Your Young Child

1. Pay attention to the symmetry of your child's legs. If one leg appears to be shorter than the other then you may want to take your child to a doctor to be examined for DDH. If the child is walking then a difference in the length of the legs may be noticed because the child walks on the toes of one foot with their heel constantly off the ground as a way of compensating for the difference in leg length.

2. Look for extra rolls of fat on the inside of the thigh. Everyone loves those delicious rolls of fat that cover a baby's legs, but extra rolls of fat on the inside of the thigh may be an indicator of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.

3. Notice if one hip joint is moving differently than the other hip joint. If only one hip joint is affected by developmental dysplasia of the hip then you may be able to detect it by noticing a difference in the way that the two hips move.

4. Ask yourself if your child is walking with a limp or a waddle.

What To Do If You Suspect That Your Child Has It

5. Make an appointment with your child's primary physician. It is important than you not try to treat the condition on your own to prevent the hip joint from developing abnormally.

6. Follow any instructions that your child's doctor gives you carefully. When it comes to treating an abnormality in a joint, especially a joint as important as the hip joint, it is always better to play it as safe as possible. You should follow any instructions that your child's doctor gives you, with regards to the treatment of the hip, carefully. Sometimes DDH calls for your child to wear leg braces to correct the problem, sometimes a child may need surgery followed by physical therapy to correct their hip joint. Whether your child is in a cast or leg braces, there will most certainly be special care instructions that you need to follow.

7. Be patient and know that you are doing the right thing for your child in making sure that they are receiving treatment for this problem. It can be hard to sit and watch your baby go through the necessary surgery or watch them sport bulky leg braces, especially at such a young age, but it is best that you remember that by getting them the needed treatment you are saving them a lot of pain down the road.

Resources

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