The Pavlik harness is a soft splint that helps keep the infant’s hips and knees bent and the thighs apart. The most common treatment for hip dysplasia in infants is a Pavlik harness. This way, we are more likely to detect any abnormalities early on and begin treatment as needed,” said Dr. “Many of the signs of hip dysplasia go unnoticed in everyday life, which is why it’s so important for infants to have routine well-child exams that include hip screen examination right from the moment they’re born. A hip click may be a sign of hip dysplasia, but it does not guarantee the condition. Signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia vary based on age and severity. That’s why early detection and treatment of hip dysplasia is so important. Hip dysplasia can damage the cartilage lining in the hip joint, and in some cases, can lead to loss of the soft cartilage that lines the socket portion of the hip joint, resulting in a painful arthritic hip. Hip dysplasia is a condition in which the hip socket does not fully cover the ball of the upper thighbone, allowing the hip joint to become partially or completely dislocated. However, if a parent notices clicking, popping, abnormal walking pattern, they should schedule an additional exam with their pediatrician.” What is hip dysplasia? “Abnormalities or signs of problems in the hip joints can often be identified at the child’s routine well-exams, especially during the first few years of life. If there is no detection of hip dysplasia or other abnormalities and your child is experiencing a hip click after three or more years of age, schedule an exam with their pediatrician to check for any undetected orthopaedic abnormalities. At these early visits, a physician will check their hips and legs for signs of hip dysplasia or other abnormalities. For children under 2, these exams occur 2-3 months. After the exam, the pediatrician can determine whether further evaluation from a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon is necessary.Ĭhildren should have routine well-child visits from the moment they are born up through age 21. In this case, they should schedule an appointment with their child’s pediatrician for an examination. Parents may notice clicking or popping sounds when their child walks or moves their hips or legs. Should my child see a doctor for their hip click? If any of the above are present, the patient should receive further testing to check for hip dysplasia. a specialist detects laxity during the newborn hip screening exam.if there was an extended breech position while the baby was in the womb.if a primary relative of the child had hip dysplasia (a parent or sibling).Some factors may lead to a greater likelihood that a child will have hip dysplasia, such as: Are there risk factors for hip dysplasia? Once we perform further examinations and testing, we can determine the best way to treat the problem,” said Dr. “If we notice an abnormality in a newborn’s hips, we may order an ultrasound to get a more in-depth look. They do this by gently pushing and pulling the baby’s thigh bones to see how they move in the hip socket. During this thorough physical exam, a specialist will check the baby's hips and legs for abnormalities to assess for hip dysplasia. This is something that is usually caught early on by physicians during well-child visits.” Should my newborn receive a hip exam?Īfter a child is born at the hospital, pediatric specialists perform a newborn examination. “A child that has a hip click or hip instability should be monitored for hip dysplasia or other developmental abnormalities. More importantly, instability or displacement of the hip is a significant concern for hip dysplasia. A hip click could be a sign of abnormalities in hip development, but further examination and possible testing are required to reach a diagnosis. There are tendons or ligaments associated with an infant’s hip joint that can make a snapping or popping sound for a variety of reasons. What is a hip click?Ī “hip click” refers to an audible clicking or popping sound that occurs when a baby’s hips are being examined or moved around. James Engels, MD, a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon with Rochester Regional Health, advises parents on what to do if their child has a hip click and provides need-to-know information on hip dysplasia. In some cases, parents may notice abnormalities when an infant or young child’s legs are moved, such as a clicking sound or the feeling of looseness or displacement of the hip. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint, meaning that the femoral head (the top of the femur) is shaped like a ball and sits within the cup-like socket in the pelvis.

Hip xray normal vs bad hip joints