Talk

Flip

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Children's health

Hip developmental dysplasia

5 replies

littlemissbull · 14/08/2008 20:44

Hi

My friend has just had a baby girl 4 weeks ago and this week has been told she has this. She has to wear a sling for 6 weeks. What is this? How does it happen and what can the implications be?

Don't know much about it

OP posts:

Report

Pinkjenny · 16/08/2008 16:17

Hi Littlemissbull

My dd, who is now 15mo, wore the Pavlik harness for 13 weeks, from the ago of 2 weeks. It looks like a little lederhosen, its all velcro. It goes across their chest, over their shoulders and down over each foot. Its worn over a vest and socks, but under their clothes. Dd had to wear it for 23.5 hours a day, only taking it off for the bath. There is a picture of it on the STEPS charity website.

To be honest, its a lot worse in the beginning, you just get on with it after a few days, and you do get used to it. Dd was born in May, so had to wear hers over the summer, which was a bit difficult, trying to keep her cool in a vest and socks! The only problems I found were making sure she didn't get any sores or anything, and she used to protest a bit when I was putting it back on after her bath, but it's one of those situations that is much worse for you than them. They are too little to know any different.

Dd has to go back every 12 months for a check up until she is 5yo, and has been walking now for about 3 weeks, completely normally. She hit all her developmental milestones no problem, as the harness was off well before she was sitting up or anything.

I was completely horrified when we found out she had dislocated hips, and it was shitty at the time (especially as the doctor in Postnatal told mne he wasn't sure she's ever walk - which is bollocks, by the way), but now I count my blessings that the problem was corrected with a bit of velcro, and not anaesthetic and a plaster cast!

Tell your sister she can email me if she likes, [email protected].

It'll be fine, I promise!! Look at dd on my profile, it hasn't done her any harm!

Report

Elibean · 17/08/2008 17:36

There are so many different degrees of this, its hard to say what the implications are - but probably, as PJ says, she will be fine after a few weeks or months in a harness. My cousin had it and is fine (now adult) after a few weeks in Pavlik's as a baby.

My own dd2 is about to be checked for dysplasia at 21 months, sadly...her newborn scan was normal, and at 6 months the HV and GP said her hips seemed fine (but we didn't re-scan). She walked at 18 months and has one leg that turns outwards and looks a teeny bit shorter....so scan it is.

The earlier the better for treatment, and if your friend wants support tell her about STEPS - they have a great website and message board there, for all sorts of childrens' leg problems including dysplasia.

Report

littlemissbull · 18/08/2008 11:21

thanks so much for all the replies and reassurance. I will pass on this website address.

OP posts:

Report

Pinkjenny · 19/08/2008 09:41

Elibean

I didn't think there was any corrective treatment for 'out-toeing'. I read somewhere that it usually corrects itself by the time they are 8. Dd is out-toeing a bit, but I'm hoping its just her getting her balance, as she had her hips x-rayed only two months ago and there were no problems.

So hopefully it'll be fine! Let me know how you get on.