In plain words
Developmental dysplasia of the hip, or DDH, covers a range of problems in how the hip forms in infancy. In the mild end, the joint is loose or the socket is shallow. In the severe end, the top of the thigh bone sits outside the socket. Many babies are checked by a provider with a hip exam at birth and at well-baby visits. Some are sent for an ultrasound when there is a risk factor, such as breech birth, a family history, or an abnormal exam. Early detection matters, because treatment is simpler when the hip is found early. Babies with DDH are often treated with a brace or harness. A mother may notice uneven skin folds on the thighs or a leg that seems shorter. These are reasons to mention the hip at the next visit.
The deeper version
DDH is found several times more often in breech-born infants than the general baseline. The American Academy of Pediatrics clinical practice guideline (Pediatrics, 2000) recommends selective ultrasound for infants with risk factors such as breech presentation, with the timing and method guided by age. The US Preventive Services Task Force (2015) concluded that evidence was insufficient to recommend for or against universal ultrasound screening, which keeps the approach selective in many settings. Clinical examination for hip stability and abduction is standard at birth and at well visits. Treatment depends on age and severity, and includes harness or brace treatment in early infancy and surgery when the hip is not reduced. The balance between overdiagnosis and missed cases remains a debated point.
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What mothers here say about developmental dysplasia of the hip
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Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics — Clinical Practice Guideline: Early detection of developmental dysplasia of the hip, Pediatrics, 2000
- US Preventive Services Task Force — Screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip in newborns, 2015