Hip dyspraxia in newborns & Pavlik brace- anyone experienced this?

[KikiRC]

Hello, just wondered if anyone is in the same position, or has been?

DD (4 weeks old) was born with 1 dislocatable & one shallow hip. She has been wearing a Pavlik brace for three weeks & just had an ultrasound which showed little/ no improvement in hip placement, which is quite disappointing. We're to go back in 2 weeks to see if it improves, if not she may need a plaster cast for a while and then go back into the brace again, which we obviously hope we can avoid.

I'm no expert, but her brace seems to give her a lot of leg movement- the images I've seen online seem to hold the hips much far more firmly in place. Just wondered if I should query this as I'd hate to have her to go into plaster if we could make an adjustment to the brace that could do the job.

I would say that you might as well ask, there's no harm in it.

DD's hips were almost exactly the same. We had a fabulous consultant who basically gave us carte Blanche to call him whenever we felt we needed to do because we were "one of the lucky ones who had been diagnosed early". DDs progress was very slow, I can't remember the timings but I do know that at the first follow up he said that there hadn't been much improvement but that there had been some so he would leave it a bit longer. Same happened at the next appointment.

I haven,t heard of any other child being in a Pavlik's for as long as DD was - she was in it from 8 weeks to 10 months full time and then weaned off it over the next month. I'm also not entirely sure that most consultants would have left her in the Pavlik's for as long as he did but he said that as long as he saw ANY improvement he'd keep her in it.

DD is now 5 and has no further problems, she was signed off when she was three. I do remember how shocking it was at the time and I wish you and your DD all the best. Hopefully the Pavlik's will work but if not, try to remember (easy for me to say, I know) that even if you need further intervention then the earlier she has it the better. Good luck!

The only knowledge I have of this was a friend in my ante natal baby group (who was a doctor oddly!). Her daughter had hip dyspraxia and it was decided to put her in a plaster cast. Highly inconvenient for them all, but it seemingly didn't last forever, a few months maybe? Her DD is fine now, and doesn't seem to have any problems. Her DD2 also had it, but mild and had the brace. DD3 was fine.

Thanks, Robino. I think I was a bit disappointed because I was born with both hips dislocated and in a splint for 3 months (in the late 1970s) which seemed to do the job effectively in three months. As DD's hips weren't so bad as mine, I had hoped she'd have an easier ride.

I didn't get an awful amount of advice from the hospital and now reading up a bit more think that I've been doing quite a few things wrong- i.e. hadn't changed BF position, and have been using a soft sling (they said this was fine, but I can see now it's not recommended). Also they hadn't told me not to lift the feet together when changing the nappy. So I'm a bit frustrated that I've been doing all that over the first three weeks which has probably slowed her progress.

Obviously if she needs the plaster case she'll have to have it, I just didn't want her to have to go through all that unnecessarily- especially as once the plaster cast comes off then she would probably need another 3 month stint in the brace again...

Hi Kiki,
My ds was in a harness from 6 wks to 5.5 months (and I had dysplastic hips as a baby too, so snap!). They corrected after that. I didn't get any advice about BFing or anything else. I do remember some leg movement being possible but if you are in doubt I would definitely go back to the specialist. After a few months I realised you can ask for another harness so you can wash the other one (!) as it was getting really gross. I can't remember if I had to pay something for the 2nd one though. Good luck.

Thanks, guys. Glad to hear your experiences ended well, too.

I wondered- were any of you recommended to double up with nappies once the harness was fitted? DD had double nappies her first week before she went into the brace to keep the hips loosely in position, but I was told it wouldn't be necessary once the harness was on. I do find the position is maintained much better with two nappies though. Just wondered what advice you had been given? x

My dd had this too. It's genetic for us dm, myself and dsis all had it. My dm was operated on as a child and dd and dsis responded to Pavlic harness. I can't have been too bad as double terry toweling nappies worked for me. Dd was v bad on scale in one hip so quite worrying. Just had an x-ray for her six month check and all ok - now only need annual checks.

Getting close to dd was harder with harness and also found winding a lot harder. Was not advised re double nappies though so no advice there. Oh can say don't worry about leg shape when harness eventually comes off. Was not prepared and had a panic but is only very very temporary. (The harness leaves little dents in legs from being on sooo long).

The only advice I was given was regarding nappy changing - once cleaned everything to make sure all creases are completely dry as easier for nappy rash to develop. We had physio inspect harness and make adjustments as dd grew on top of checks but can't recall how often sorry.

Good luck with everything I know how stressful it can all be. Oh and when weather warms a little buy dresses they fit over everything perfectly (I also had a pair of leg warmers for dd). Oh and if all ok you get to wear the dresses twice as they go down a size at least when harness comes off.

I have 2 friends who have not known anything about this until discovered in their dds a lot layer. I know its no consolation but early diagnosis and treatment is far better.

Thanks, Spiderman- yes, much easier to dress a girl in the harness, though she's always in dresses several times too big- can't wait 'til she fits in something properly...

She's been in the harness for nearly a month now, and I've got quite used to it- it's not too bad, really- I think it's the thought of needing a plaster cast that worries me. I've seen some photos and they're really quite extreme. Also I was told when she went into the harness that it would be about 3 months, and I've been counting down... Now it turns out it will be 3 months from when the hips get into the correct position (so over four months, minimum) or after the plaster cast, so that's months & months. Just a bit disappointing, really, though of course I know it's all for the best and she'll be fine once it's all over with.

It's things like I can't bath her or even see her whole body at once that bother me most of all- and by the time she's out of it she'll be a much older baby- I feel like I'm missing a chunk of this really precious time while she's tiny. I know that sounds stupid.

I know how hard it is now but honestly when you look back it will seem like such a short time (i did hate it when people said this to me but it is true). Just give her lots of extra kisses and when you do get to give her a bath make sure you make a big occasion of it. Oh and when you can start weaning her out the harness beg for a spare as they are filthy by then and really need washing.