Risky Wrap: Dangers of Swaddling Babies -- Research Summary

WHAT IS HIP DYSPLASIA? Hip dysplasia is a condition that causes the hip joint not to develop correctly. Developmental dysplasia of the hip can happen at birth or can be developed as the child grows. In hip dysplasia, there may be looseness of the ligament that holds the ball in the socket, or there can be displacement in which the ball of the hip is out of the socket completely. If the hip socket is too shallow or loose, the thigh bone can slip in and out of the socket partially or completely. (SOURCE: http://www.childrenshospital.org/)

HIP DYSPLASIA IN INFANTS:

SIGNS OF HIP DYSPLASIA:
The leg on the side of the dislocated hip appearing to be shorter

The folds in the skin of thigh or buttocks looking uneven

Leg on the dislocated hip may turn outward

Space between legs may look wider than normal

(SOURCE: http://www.childrenshospital.org/ )

TREATMENT:
Although hip dysplasia can be caused by a number of factors such as genetics and gender, there are treatment options to help those affected by this disorder. Depending on the severity of the hip dysplasia, doctors may choose to put the child under observation to determine if the hip is developing correctly. Other measures may be taken such as placing the infant in a Pavlik harness, which can be used on infants up to four months old, to wear for six weeks full-time and then another six weeks half-time. If the child is diagnosed after age two, they may have to have traction –the use of pulleys strings, weights and a metal frame attached over a bed, or casting. If treatments are unsuccessful, the child may have to undergo surgery to correct the dislocated hip. (SOURCE: http://www.childrenshospital.org/)People with milder cases of hip dysplasia can go through childhood and adolescence without having any symptoms, but as adults they may develop pain and have to seek medical attention. Some signs of hip dysplasia can include:Developmental dysplasia of the hip or DDH, affects one or two out of 1,000 infants. Often the condition corrects itself without medical intervention. The highest incidence of DDH occurs in first born babies (because the uterus is tighter than in later babies), breach babies and females (because ligaments are looser than males). Hip dysplasia is the most common hip problem in children and if left untreated, can lead to greater problems as adults such as osteoarthritis, a limp, or differences in leg length. (SOURCE: http://www.childrenshosptial.org/)

Risky Wrap: Dangers of Swaddling Babies -- Research Summary Medical News and Health Information

first step:
Risky Wrap: Dangers of Swaddling Babies | Medical News and Health Information