HDIF or How Do I Friday

My baby has just been diagnosed .... How do I do this?

I clearly remember all of the emotions and anger I felt when Jack was diagnosed. I can also remember thinking .... "Now what! What does this mean for Jack, is he going to be able to live a "normal" & active life,  how are we going to do this, was this something I did while carrying my sweet boy for 9 months, why was it not found earlier ..... how did this happen?" 

I had so many emotions and questions all at once, I felt incredibly overwhelmed and very scared. Once Jack was discharged and we were settled at home, I started searching. There are some amazing resources for parents with a new diagnosis of DDH. Here are a couple that not only helped me at the beginning, but continue to help, as we move onto Jack's next stage of treatment.

What is Hip Dysplasia? This is an excerpt from an article written for parents, by parents. You can find it at Ergo Baby (which, by the way, is an amazing carrier for your babe in either brace or cast). I've removed more than "the basics" to keep this post shorter :) If you would like to read the entire article please click the Ergo Baby link above or in the sidebar. I also added some links so you can see what they are talking about when it comes to the braces and surgeries.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia, CDH for short (for congenital dysplasia of the hip), is an umbrella term for congenital or acquired false positions or disorders of the ossification of the newborn's hip joint. 

The following illustrations show a normally to heavily damaged hip joint:

• Illustration A: normal hip joint
• Illustration B: hip joint affected by dysplasia [2]
• Illustration C: hip joint affected by subluxation [3]
• Illustration D: hip joint affected by subluxation [4]
• Illustration E: The greater the impairment the wider (a) and higher (b) the femoral head is situated out of the joint socket or acetabulum, the more askew is the roof of the acetabulum (c) and the more blunted is its rim (d). [6]

DIAGNOSIS

The ultrasound examination of the hip helps the diagnosis. During the first four and a half months, it is very reliable and evaluates the stability of the joints in real time. From four and a half months onwards, frontal X-ray pictures confirm a potentially serious or risky diagnosis. If, even if hip dysplasia is suspected, the X-ray turns out normal, then the diagnosis can also be determined by means of other radiation examinations like MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), scintigraphy or possibly CT (computer tomography).

THERAPY

The measures available for treatment are of orthopaedic as well as of surgical character. An orthopaedic treatment is mostly the first step; changing the newborn in a position as to keep the legs apart, or using orthopaedic aids as abduction pants that spread the baby's thighs (von Rosen splint, Pavlik harness, and so on).  If the diagnosis is made later, then the child is treated by means of an abduction plaster, i.e., putting the child in a cast on the affected side from foot to hip. The intention is to achieve the final ossification of the hip joint that occurs between the third and the sixth month in a position that is healthy for the hip joint. Thanks to all these aids and early detection measures, an operation (osteotomy of the pelvis and / or the femur) seldom becomes necessary.

Written by: Annika Kral (Senior Manager Research)

The greatest help to me (other than my hubby and our amazing support group of family and friends!) has been the online support group at Hip-baby. I fully recommend, even if you've been on this journey for awhile, joining. There are parents from all corners of the world, with children and diagnosis of all ages. I have made some amazing friends who I can turn to, not only when I am feeling "alone", but to help when I know they are. 

It is very important, as a parent, to remember that all cases of DDH are different and that the earlier it is found, the shorter and more successful the treatment is. As a parent, diagnosis at any age is heart breaking. I do promise you though, that as hard as this journey is on you, your family and friends, your child will amaze you constantly. Celebrate all of the "little steps" .... the big ones will follow!

"GROW, BONE, GROW"

XO,

Steph