The birth rate for children with congenital hip dysplasia or dysplasia of hip development is increasing. It is a condition in which the hip joint is not normal. The head of the femur does not fit properly in the joint and that can cause lameness and pain later on.
Medical specialists do not know exactly what the cause is of this congenital defect and here we present some factors:
– Family background.
– Baby born in breech position.
– Decreased amniotic fluid in the uterus.
– Disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
How to tell if my baby has hip dysplasia?
– A “hollow sound” during the opening and closing of the hips.
– Inability to move the thigh out of the hip.
– One leg shorter than the other.
– Lameness or walking on tiptoe with one of the feet in larger children.
– A curvature of the spine in larger children.
– Leveling of the fatty folds of the thigh around the groin or buttocks.
Sometimes parents do not realize that there is mild dysplasia and as the time progresses it is harder to heal. They usually require a cast or surgery if the child is already big. At 4 months you should do a hip X-ray to rule out this congenital malformation.
If not, go to your doctor as soon as possible to get treatment. When a baby is premature the X-ray plates do not show clearly as some parts are still cartilage and the degree of dysplasia cannot be accurately detected.
When this is the case, some doctors recommend using double diapers at night and during the day. Also, you can carry the child in a kangaroo so that the baby’s legs are open like a frog to cure dysplasia.
If the child still shows dysplasia the doctor recommends wearing orthopedic pants with straps that hold the legs to keep them open in a single position.
