Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
Developmental dysplasia of the hip, or DDH, is a term describing instability of the newborn hips. It happens in one out of 1000 births, and is due to many factors, including:
- First born (from a tight uterus)
- Female sex (more relaxing hormones)
- Family history
- Breech presentation
Symptoms and Treatment
The hips of children with DDH are unstable and either pop in and out with movement, or it may be very loose to exam. Treatment consists of a Velcro" brace from the chest down to the legs, which keeps the hips in a frog-like position. The hips are spread out and the knees are bent. The Pavlik harness brace is commonly used. It is effective in over 87% of DDH babies, but must be worn full-time for an average of six to twelve weeks. The stability of the hip is monitored by clinical exams as well as by ultrasound. Those babies whose hips do not improve with the Pavlik harness may need surgery.
Contact Us
If you need to reach the Orthopaedic Nurse before 4 pm, Monday through Friday, please call 513-636-4567. After 4 pm, and during weekends and holidays, please call 513-636-4200, and ask that the Orthopaedic Resident on call be paged.
Rev. 8/07
