2.5 year old not walking

[PivotPivotmakingmargaritas]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone has medical knowledge and can help me please.

My 2.5 year old has never walked and only barely stood by herself doesn’t talk much originally I 100% thou go t ND and autism but as she’s got older the lack of walking has turned to more of a medical problem. Before I begin we are in Australia so the system and access to things might be different.

we have seen a physio for over 1.5 years she is now walking and pulling to stand

She also sees a paediatrician at a public hospital so an NHS paediatrician I believe is the similar way of explaining

She also sees an Occupational Therapist, speech therapist and dietitian

A few weeks ago she had a scan on her hips and lower spine - I haven’t heard from the paediatrician but have seen the results from the xray and I’m confused and spiralling

It says

Both femoral heads are mildly laterally sublexed and there is bilateral mild to moderate coxa valgus

What does this mean in English - will my DD be able to walk, potentially need surgery and I panicking for no reason.

thank you

Coxa valgus is a deformity of the hip.
Subluxed essentially means a partial dislocation. Your poor daughter must be in pain.

Depending on the severity, surgery may be an option but there are non surgical options. Your care providers should go through all options with you and advise on which is best for your child.

Femoral heads are slightly tilted at the wrong angle and don't sit fully in the hip joint. Is
she under orthopaedics? I'd expect a referral to a paediatric orthopaedic specialist even if just to check everything, then might just be a watch and wait to see how therapy goes, they might suggest walking aides, there are other more serious interventions, but given it says mild, mild to moderate and her age I'd think more likely watch and wait and therapy/walking aides.

Paediatric orthopaedic specialists are at only a handful of major hospitals and unless you live somewhere like Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane probably means travel. Westmead have Paediatric orthopaedics, I think sydney children's hospital do too and I expect Royal Children's in Melbourne would. Wait time shouldn't be long at that age. FWIW little kids bones have an amazing ability to grow. My youngest has a condition that basically killed his femoral heads and they grew back. I was scared when we found out, I thought he'd need a wheelchair and surgery, but it was very limited physical activity for a year and they've just kept an eye on him. He had a lot of pain for about 2 years.

Are you seeing the therapists through NDIS? You don't need a diagnosis to access at that age, just enough developmental delays. Both my boys accessed it that way. I wouldn’t rule out autism, it could be both. Both my boys have had a lot of speech therapy, OT, physio, gross motor and fine motor delays but didn't struggle to walk. They started on early intervention NDIS because of significant developmental delays in multiple areas and are still on it now post autism diagnosises and most of the delays are no longer severe. Wishing you all the best with it, I hope you can see the paediatrician soon.