Developmental dysplasia of the hip

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Congential hip dislocation

Developmental dislocation of the hip joint; Developmental hip dysplasia; DDH; Congenital dysplasia of the hip; Congenital dislocation of the hip; CDH

In early infancy, positioning with a device to keep the legs apart and turned outward (frog-leg position) will usually hold the hip joint in place. If there is a problem in maintaining proper position, a cast may be place on the child's leg and changed as the child grows.

Surgery may be necessary if early measures to put the joint back in place are unsuccessful or if the defect is first detected in an older child.

If the dysplasia is picked up in the first few months of life, it can almost always be treated successfully with bracing. In a few cases, surgery is necessary to put the hip back in joint. An older age at diagnosis may be associated with a worse outcome and may necessitate more complex surgery to repair the problem.

• Skin irritation from reduction devices
• Untreated, will lead to arthritis and deterioration of the hip which can be severely debilitating
• Limb length discrepancies may persist despite appropriate treatment

Call your health care provider if you suspect that your child's hip is not properly positioned.

Review Date: 05/15/2006
Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.