Healthbeauty123.com – While the most common treatment for hip dysplasia in babies is a cast, there are other treatment options available. Depending on the severity of the condition, your child may require surgery to correct the hip. Surgical treatment is possible in a 3 month-old child if the joint is stable. It may also form on its own with time and observation. Read on for more information. The following information is intended to be informative and educational, not medical advice.
Pain Rarely Occurs in Infants with Hip Dysplasia
Infants with hip dysplasia may have clicking hips, which is perfectly normal in a newborn, but can also be a sign of the disease. Your doctor can confirm this diagnosis with an ultrasound or x-ray. Pain rarely occurs in babies with hip dysplasia, but can be a sign of the condition later in childhood. Other symptoms may include swayback or an exaggerated limp. Occasionally, the condition may affect both hips.
Early detection is key in preventing DDH. Babies with DDH will often make a popping or clicking noise when they move. A splint or harness may be used to correct the problem, but the result is often unsuccessful. A plaster cast is an alternative treatment. A plaster cast can hold the hip in place and help it develop normally. However, if you suspect your baby has DDH, it’s important to seek medical attention early.
Treatment for hip dysplasia in babies depends on the severity and age of the condition. Some cases may improve on their own within the first six months of development, but others may require months or years to improve. Your pediatrician can also refer you to a pediatric orthopedic specialist. If you are concerned that your baby may be suffering from hip dysplasia, contact Pregnancy, Birth, and Baby for more information and support.
Treating Hip Dysplasia in Babies
Fortunately, most infants with hip dysplasia do well with treatment and will walk at an age normal for their age. As their condition improves, they can take part in more activities, including dance, gymnastics, and sports. However, early diagnosis is the best way to treat hip dysplasia in babies, and a skilled pediatrician will help them get back on their feet quickly. And the best part is that it is highly treatable.
X-rays are another way to diagnose hip dysplasia in babies. Ultrasounds use sound waves to create pictures of the hip joint. An ultrasound is best for infants less than 6 months old, when most of the joint is soft cartilage and won’t be visible. X-rays work best when a baby is at least four to six months of age, when bones have fully formed.
A baby’s hip joint is comprised of a cup-shaped ball at the top of the thigh bone and a ball-shaped socket in the pelvic cavity. During pregnancy, the baby’s body’s position puts pressure on the soft joint, stretching ligaments and causing the ball to move out of the hip socket. It can also lead to arthritis. Other symptoms of hip dysplasia include leg lengthening and an asymmetric buttock crease.
Genetic Link can increase the Risk of Hip Dysplasia
Although the exact cause of hip dysplasia in babies is unknown, genetic links have been found to increase the risk. Parents with hip dysplasia have a one-in-seven chance of passing it on to their children. Additionally, if one parent has the condition, the child has a one-in-eight chance of developing the disease. Babies with hip dysplasia are often more likely to be girls than boys.
If your baby is suffering from hip dysplasia, you should consider wearing a baby carrier. Wearing multiple diapers keeps the child in a frog-like position. This helps reduce the force on the hip joint. You can also use wide carriers. Lastly, wearing a harness can help prevent hip dysplasia. They are usually worn 24 hours a day for eight to twelve weeks, and allow you to dress, bathe, and change the diaper.
If your baby is not able to wear a harness or is experiencing pain, your pediatrician may recommend an abduction brace. This brace will hold your baby’s hips in the correct position and prevent hip dysplasia from progressing. It is important to know that there is no cure for this condition, but there are many treatments that will help your baby live a normal life. For example, a child with hip dysplasia may require surgery.
