Hip Dislocation

Hip Dislocation

If hip dislocation is discovered early on, it is treated with a bandage and plaster. It is also possible to treat it later in life, although it involves surgical intervention.

Hip dislocation is common in newborns today. Experts note that dislocation can be treated relatively quickly if detected early, therefore early detection is critical.

What is hip dislocation?
The incompatibility of the thigh bone and pelvic bone during joint formation leads the hip joint to be incompletely formed. This results in hip dislocation. Congenital hip dislocation (DDH) is also known as developing hip deficit, developmental hip dislocation, and congenital hip dislocation.Disruption in the development of the socket in the pelvic bone (acetabulum) and the consequent inability of the femoral head to maintain its normal position in this socket and its position outside the socket is considered as hip dislocation.

Congenital hip dislocation is common in children and can lead to permanent disability if not recognized and treated early.

In how many groups is hip dislocation analyzed?
There are two categories of hip dislocation. One is teratologic hip dislocation, which occurs in utero. The other is typical hip dislocation. Typical hip dislocation occurs during or immediately after birth. Typical dislocations are divided into three groups.

Dislocatable hip: This means that the hip can passively dislocate.
Semi-dislocated hip: This is when the head of the femur is displaced upwards and outwards in the joint, but not fully dislocated.
Dislocated hip: A dislocated hip is when the head of the femur is outside the socket.
6 TREATABLE INFANT DISEASES
The incidence of hip dislocation...

According to the World Health Organization, two out of a thousand children born each year have hip dislocation. If your family has had a history of hip dislocation, the likelihood of it occurring in your child increases. In addition, factors such as caesarean section, laxity of ligaments, high birth weight, position of the baby in the womb (breech presentation) and being the first child are factors that increase the incidence of hip dislocation. Bilateral dislocation occurs in 40 percent of babies. Hip dislocation is also more common in girls than in boys.

What are the symptoms of hip dislocation?
There may be no symptoms of hip dislocation until walking, especially in newborn babies and young children whose dislocation is not severe. In such cases, the dislocation may be noticed during normal examinations by pediatricians. Consult a doctor if there is a difference in the length of your baby's legs, a deformity in the feet, a difference between the right and left leg in the upper fold areas of the hip and leg, less mobility and flexibility in one leg compared to the other. In addition, if you observe symptoms such as a staggering gait at the beginning of walking, you should show your baby to an experienced orthopedist as soon as possible.

Do not postpone treatment for hip dislocation!
The first step in treatment is to prohibit swaddling. As a result of the diagnosis made in the first 6 months, the method we call pavlik bandage, which separates your baby's knees from each other and pulls them towards the abdomen, or frejka pillow is applied. These bandages do not disturb your baby. After 6 months of age, under general anesthesia, the hip can be placed in place and a plaster cast applied, and bone surgery may be required for those older than 18 months. As the dislocation becomes more severe with age, the size of the operations increases. Until the age of 6, successful surgeries can be performed, although rarely, but unfortunately, surgical procedures in children older than 10 years usually do not give positive results. In such cases, hip joint freezing or functionally advantageous hip prosthesis surgery is performed at an older age. Keep in mind that the longer the diagnosis is delayed, the more difficult the treatment will be, so make sure that your baby is examined by specialized doctors. Hip dislocation can be prevented.

According to statistics, hip dislocation, which occurs in one out of every 800 newborn babies, is the most common congenital musculoskeletal disorder. Treatment of the disease in the early stages is provided by orthopedic products that are simple to use. Orthopedic examination should not be neglected for diagnosis. It is worth underlining that in cases of late detection, surgical interventions and a difficult treatment process are required.

Congenital hip dislocation, which is quite common in our country, is actually only a musculoskeletal problem if diagnosed early. It is also very easy to treat. When there is no condition that draws the attention of the parents, the diagnosis may be delayed until the child starts walking. Since the success of treatment decreases as time passes, experts recommend that babies have orthopedic examinations within the first 2-3 months after birth.

Only 10 minutes
Although the exact cause is unknown, genetic, hormonal, mechanical and environmental factors play a role in congenital hip dislocation. We recommend that especially those with a family history of hip dislocation share this with their doctor. Because it may not be realized that a dislocation has occurred until the baby reaches walking age. It is possible to diagnose the condition with an orthopedic examination that takes only 10 minutes. If the doctor deems it necessary, ultrasound and X-rays may be requested for babies older than 4 months. Congenital hip dislocation is more common in girls than boys. Although the dislocation is usually on one side, it can affect both hips. If the length of your baby's legs are different from each other, you should definitely be checked if you have not been examined before.

Early treatment of hip dislocation
As with many diseases, early diagnosis is of great importance in hip dislocation. Especially in the first 6 months of diagnosis, treatments are successful. The absence of any external symptoms such as pain makes the diagnosis difficult. The initial diagnosis is determined by a competent pediatrician examination, and the definitive diagnosis is made by ultrasound examinations in the 0-6 month period or X-rays in the 6-18 months.

In 95 percent of cases, early diagnosis can lead to complete treatment with very simple methods. Orthopedic devices are used at this stage. If treatment is started early, a period of 5-6 months is sufficient to normalize the hip. If the diagnosis is made after the child starts walking, much more difficult and complex methods such as plaster casts and surgical intervention are used. At this stage, your child is immobilized in a cast for 3-4 months and if this does not produce results, surgical interventions are started. Give importance to early diagnosis to prevent this difficult process and permanent disabilities.

Do not do these if you have hip dislocation!
Swaddling: Unfortunately, swaddling is still common in some regions of our country. It is said that swaddling plays a negative role in the emergence of hip problems in thousands of children every year.

Incorrect diapering: The fact that the diaper is narrow and small, and that it is tied at the groin level are factors that negatively affect hip development. Ready-made diapers are definitely healthier than any diaper binding and it is beneficial to use them.

Wrong clothes It is very wrong to dress babies in tight and small clothes, sometimes for economic reasons and sometimes because of wrong habits. The clothes worn in infancy are effective in hip problems.

Wrong grip: Especially during breastfeeding, babies' legs are held together. It is a wrong way of holding and negatively affects hip development.

Improper transportation: Babies are held and carried while being carried, especially in the first months. This creates a swaddling effect. It is not suitable for hip development.

Pressing early, using a walker: It is also a mistake to press the baby to the floor early and put him/her in a walker before completing the natural development process. If there is a problem with the hips, it can lead to an increase.