ddh

ChristineDean · May 30, 2008 3:31AM

i had to take Sam back to hospital today as he wiggled all through his routine hip check so we were refered for an ultra sound. well he wriggled the whole time throughthe ultrasound must to the specialists disgust (he is onlky a baby tho) so we ended up having an x ray. well Sam has ddh or developemental displacement of the hip. it is just his left hip but itr means some scary treatment. he is either got to have a harness for 6-12 weeks or major surgery and a body cast for 6-12 weeks. i have to take him back tuesday to find out how they want to proceed. i am totally crapping myself about it but both options seem horifi8c. he is very active and has just started trying to sit up and i know this will be soo restrictive for him. we have just signed up for swimming classes as well whichi dont know if we can do now. i know in the long run it will help him but i really just want to cry

LimeCupcake · May 23, 2008 4:05AM

I tried to post last night and it didnt work. I had that when i was a baby but it was mild and sorted itself by the time i was 6 months. Hope sam doesnt need an op! Poor wee guy. Hope youre coping ok, must be a shock!

Big hugs!

Deli3 · May 24, 2008 1:36AM

Hiya
Oh no poor you and Sam....my god daughter Amy who is now 12 had this. she had to wear this sort of plastic nappy type thing that kept her legs stable and apart. she got away without the op. Strangely enough on the same day that Amy was born and in the same hospital my aunties sister in law on her hubbys side of family also had a girl Bethany. It was not discovered that she also had clicky hip till she was gone 1 and she needed her legs putting in a cast for months. It seems the earlier the treatment the better and babies dont remember so its better sam gets seen to now rather than when he trying to walk etc... hope it all goes ok and if I remember right when Bethany had hers in a cast she got special equipment like a wide pushchair etc from a charitable orgnanisation. Also, hi chairs etc... you get them on loan. Ask at your hospital.
Chin up and we all here if you need a rant or let of steam.

Hugs

d xxx

ChristineDean · May 24, 2008 5:54AM

theres two options ones called a pavlik harness which keeps the hip in the right place and the other is surgery im really hoping they go for the harness as he will be 6 months by the time they do surgery and will be wanting to crawl/walk by then as he is trying to crawl now. he is such an active baby it seems such a shame as he basically wont be able to move for 3 months. they say that if its not treated now by the time he is 20 he will need a hip replacement.
Thanks for your replies i shall let you know what happens tueday

ChristineDean · May 24, 2008 10:34AM

Have you had Chloes check yet Lara? if anyone else in the breech club hasnt had there check up yet i would strongly advise chasing it up with your hv as the younger your lo the easier it is to treat sucessfully. i will let u all know what happens

ChristineDean · May 27, 2008 6:19PM

well i saw the orthopeadic surgeon today who was lovely. he is the first person who has been able to examine Sam. i was very impressed that he even changed Sams bum lol. well from examining the x ray and Sam he has said that the joint is not dislocated but is very shallow (the right one is slightly shallow as well) it means that he has slightly restricted movement and when hes older could lead to a full dislocation. he wasn't sure about the pavlic harness as they only use these up to 5 months and sam is as big as a 6 month old (he is now in 6-9 month clothes) but because he is soo young they are going to give it a go rather than surgery. we go back thursday to have the harness fitted and he has to wear it 24 hours a day. i think in the next week i may be buying lots of dungerees as it will be impossible to put trousers over the top. we should also hopefully get a car seat and high chair too

LimeCupcake · May 28, 2008 1:48AM

Hopefully that will do the trick. How long has he to wear it for?

ChristineDean · May 28, 2008 5:06AM

well thats the only poo thing he will probably have to waer it for 16 weeks but should hopefully be out of it by the time i go back to work. i am relieved about it though. we will know more after the 4 weeks trial

gemsie24 · May 28, 2008 7:34PM

I took Alex for her 8 week check a few weeks ago and my GP said that it looks like she also has DDH. I've been referred to a orthopaedic peadiatrician on Monday for a formal assessment. I've also been worried about what the treatment entails, and have been doing a bit of research online. I don't know the severity of Alex's situation yet obviously, but her knees and feet are EXTREMELY externally rotated. I've noticed when I put her on her feet, she doesn't step, she just stands! Like Sam, she's an active baby and I am dreading seeing her in anything restrictive, but what we have to think, is that it's better for them in the long-term. I also read that if DDH is untreated it can lead to osteo-arthritis in later life. I'd much rather a few months of restriction that a dibilitating condition. Anyway, keep me updated with Sam's progress, and I'll do the same with Alex. Good luck.

ChristineDean · May 29, 2008 7:06PM

they say that if untreated that by the time they are 20 they may have to have a hip replacement. i am glad they decided to go with the pavlic harness though first rather than surgery. Sam was born with out turned feet as well. a brill website for info is http://www.steps-charity.org.uk/links/4-15-developmental_dysplasia_of_the_hip_ddh.php
one good thing is that due to the change in law you can apply for a blue badge you just need to tell then your child is under two and has to use a pavlic harness or spica which counts as bulky equipment

LimeCupcake · May 30, 2008 3:31AM

Def get it treated! Although my hip problems disappeared by 6 months I still have problems as an adult and suffer from painful hips. It was a nightmare during pregnancy. Although my socket is fine the ligaments are poor so I have unstable hips. Hope you both get it fixed.

ddh

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