About Congenital Hip Dislocation

Sometimes the hip joints of an infant do not form properly during early stages of foetal development. Hence, the child is born with unstable hips. When congenital hip dislocation occurs, the child is born with unstable hips. The instability of hips keeps on increasing as the child grows. The ball-and- socket joints in the child’s hip also dislocate in certain cases. Girls are more likely to suffer with congenital hip dislocation than boys. But there are always chances that an infant may born with unstable hips and suffer with the bone disease.

Causes

Often physicians find it difficult to determine the exact cause of congenital hip dislocation. But often congenital hip dislocation occurs due to low level of amniotic fluid in the mother’s womb. Also, the bone disease may occur due to the child born with hips first or the mother is pregnant for the first time. The skilled orthopaedic identify congenital hip dislocation by observing the child consistently.

Symptoms

Often parents and doctors find it difficult to detect the symptoms of congenital hip dislocation. The doctors and nurses observe the child closely and continuously to identify the symptoms of this bone disorder. However, they also detect congenital hip dislocation based on common symptoms like difference in lengths of two legs, legs looking like turning outward, uneven folds in legs or buttocks, and difficulty in performing motor functions.

Diagnosis

Normally, an orthopaedic diagnoses congenital hip dislocation by examining the child’s hips and legs physically. He further recommends Barlow test or Ortolani test to diagnose the hip dislocation precisely. If the child is less than three months old, the doctor diagnoses congenital hip dislocation through ultrasound. On the other hand, the doctors diagnose the disease through X-ray if the child is more than six months old. However, the tests are conducted only after the child completes three months of age.

Treatment

The orthopaedics always treats congenital hip dislocation according to the age of the child. If the child is younger than six months, they try to press hips joints into sockets by fitting harness. They even require the child to wear the harness for six to twelve weeks. But the orthopaedic perform surgery if the harness fails to treat the dislocated hip joints. The orthopaedic treat congenital hip dislocation surgically by performing either open reduction or closed reduction. But the place the child’s hips and legs in cast for about twelve weeks after performing the surgery.

Recovery

The recovery period of congenital hip dislocation depends on the age of the child and treatment. If the child is treated non-surgically, he has to wear the harness for six to twelve weeks. On the other hand, the child’s legs and hips will be placed in cast for twelve weeks if the orthopaedic treats congenital hip dislocation surgically. But the orthopaedic always try to treat congenital hip dislocation non-surgically in the initial stages.

Case 1

Parents came to me with their 1.5 yr old kid with limping (right side). After medical investigation, I found her right hip dislocated. She also had problems of ligamentous laxity.

In medical practice, there is no standard guideline to deal with congenital dislocation of hip with ligamentous laxity. So, I counselled parents for all possible options and went for major operation.

I asked them to come for regular follow ups. But they were lost to follow up. After 1 year, they came again with the following…

Now she is walking normally. And her parents are very happy!

Post-Op Video: