One "Hip" Momma: "A long way to go" ....

January 14, 2009

"A long way to go" ....

is what our Dr. has to say about Jackjack's hips. "A long way to go" ..... haven't we already gone a long way? I find these appointments hard, going in with guarded optimism that this will be "the" appointment where we are told his hips look great, that he is finally free to learn to walk, that he can finally be free ... period.

There is very little change from our last xray 6 weeks ago & yet there is some. The plan, for now, is to keep Jackjack in his brace full time & to return in 3 months for another xray & revision to our plan of attack.

This is Jack's xray from Monday. You can clearly see how much more developed the ball (circles on the outside edges of the xray) of his right hip is compared to his left as well as the angle of his hip socket (above the ball). The brighter white on the upper outside edge of his socket is the new growth since his very first closed reduction May 29, 2008. "A long way to go" would be the only way to put it. So we wait & hope & pray .... for bone growth, patience, & unguarded optimism.

"GROW, BONE, GROW"

XO,

Steph

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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.