One "Hip" Momma: Back to reality ....

August 21, 2008

Back to reality ....

We have spent the last blissful week far away in a restful place with good friends near by .... it was heavenly! "We" finally gave in & bought a new camera before we left so I will play a bit tonight & hopefully have some for our update tomorrow after Jack's surgery.

We have another closed reduction with arthrogram attempt tomorrow & we are really hoping this one brings success. It has been 3 months since Jack's initial closed reduction & there is "normally" evidence of new growth by now. Although we know Jack isn't a "normal" case it would be so, sooo reassuring that we are making the right decisions if we saw some. That the last 3 months haven't been "for nothing" ~ you know?

Jack's surgery is scheduled for 7:40 with check-in at 6:30 (yucky for Mom & Dad but good for wee Jack!). We will hopefully be home by dinner & I will update as as soon as we have Mr. Happy comfortable :) Please send Jack strong "GROW, BONE, GROW" prayers and wishes tomorrow.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...: Wishin' and hopin' and prayin' for little Jack! Lots of hugs and kisses,Kris; August 22, 2008 at 9:27 AM

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what is developmental hip dysplasia ?

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) or congenital hip dysplasia (CDH) describes a variety of conditions in which the hip doesn't develop properly.

The hip is a "ball and socket" joint. Normally the top of the thigh bone (femur) has a round ball shape (femoral head) which fits into a cup-like socket on the pelvis (acetabulum). There are a range of developmental and congenital hip conditions that can affect babies and children.

In the mildest forms, the socket may fail to grow deep enough. In the more sever forms, the femoral head may be displaced completely out of the socket and be dislocated.

Following are terms you will become familiar with if your sweet child is diagnosed with DDH:

Subluxation - There is incomplete contact between the ball (femoral head) and cup (acetabulum) of the hip.

Dislocation - There is absolutely no contact betweeb the femoral head and acetabulum.

Instability - The hip is in the correct spot but can be moved in or out of the socket with gentle manipulation.

Teratologic Dislocation - This is an antenatal dislocation of the hip.

Hopefully, DDH will be diagnosed right after birth. Your Doctor will perform a hip check on your new baby to listen for a "click" or "clunk" as he/she moves the hip into different positions. One hip should be examined at a time, gently, with your baby relaxed. The examiner should have his/her thumb on your baby's inner thigh and the index finger around baby's hip to the back. The trick is to move the knee out to "froggy" position.

In our case, just a "twirling" of both knees was done and DDH was missed for an entire year ... by 8 different Doctors and Nurses!

When a child reaches 3 to 6 months, if the hip is dislocated it will be in a fixed position. With your little one on his/her back, lift both knees together and place those sweet feet flat on the floor. If one knee is higher/lower than the other please ask for further diagnosis.

Other signs that DDH may be present and undiagnosed are:

- uneven thigh rolls or wrinkles

- inability to "straddle sit" your hip

- fighting hip checks during well baby visits

- a slouch with sitting

- a dragging leg or a limp while walking

Depending on when DDH is diagnosed and the severity of your child's DDH determines what treatment will be used.

Please, trust your instincts, and ask for your child to be checked if you suspect DDH.