Infantile or developmental coxa vara is a relatively infrequent localised dysplasia of unknown etiology which usually presents in the second or third year of life soon after the child begins walking. The clinical and radiological picture is usually characteristic especially when seen early. Early surgery leads to a satisfactory outcome. However, difficulty arises in diagnosis and treatment when patients present late, three cases diagnosed in adolescence at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur over the last 10 years are presented to increase awareness of this condition, which may be underdiagnosed, and the difficulties in diagnosis and treatment with late presentation are stressed.
Matched MeSH terms: Hip Dislocation, Congenital/radiography*; Hip Dislocation, Congenital/surgery
A prospective study was carried out in the Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur over a 2-year period. During this time, 52,379 deliveries took place. 36 neonates (0.7 per 1000 births) were found to have congenital dislocation of the hips (CDH) by both the Ortolani and Barlow's manoeuvre. CDH was most common in the females (female to male ratio was 2.3:1), the first borns (50% of the affected cases) and babies who had breech delivery (10.7 per 1000 births). In 21 (58.3%) of the affected neonates, CDH occurred in both hips. According to the classification of newborn infants' hips by Finlay et al, 88.9% of the neonates had unstable hips while 8.3% had pathological hips. Family history of CDH was present in 5% of the patients. 8 (22.2%) of the neonates had other associated congenital abnormalities.
Matched MeSH terms: Hip Dislocation, Congenital/ethnology; Hip Dislocation, Congenital/epidemiology*
The incidence of congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) in Singapore and Malaysia has been reported as being lower than in the West. In our hospital, we have seen an increasing number of congenital hip dislocation as well as dysplastic hips. We undertook a prospective study from December 1989 to December 1994 of 20,000 live births. The neonates were all screened by a consultant neonatologist and the findings were confirmed by a consultant paediatric orthopaedic surgeon. All babies had plain X-rays at 3 months and an acetabular index (AI) of 30 degrees or more was considered dysplastic. All babies with positive signs were followed up for 1 year and again had radiographs taken at 1 year. Comparison of plain X-rays and ultrasound assessment in a subgroup of 130 neonates showed that 64% of patients with AI > 20 degrees had hip dysplasia by ultrasonographic (alpha angle < 60 degrees) The incidence of dysplastic hips was 16.8 per 1000 live births. The overall incidence of neonates with dislocated hips was 4.7 per 1000 live births. The Malays were most affected with an incidence of 5.4 per 1000 live births. The incidence of developmental dysplasia of the hip in Singapore is higher than previously reported, with the Malays having the highest incidence. A significant number of babies with clicking hips have radiological evidence of acetabular dysplasia (AI > 30 degrees). One-third of the babies' hips were still dysplastic at 1 year of age. A well-organised screening programme with experienced examiners has proved to be useful in making early and accurate clinical diagnosis.
Matched MeSH terms: Hip Dislocation, Congenital/diagnosis; Hip Dislocation, Congenital/epidemiology*; Hip Dislocation, Congenital/prevention & control
Revision surgery following failed open reduction for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is technically demanding. We reviewed 12 patients in our institution that required a revision surgery between January 1994 and December 2003. The aims of this study are to identify the causes of redislocation after the primary open reduction and to determine the clinical and radiological outcome after the revision surgery. The mean age at presentation for DDH was 31 months (range 1-84) and the mean age at primary open reduction surgery was 38 months (range 15-84) and the mean age at revision surgery was 69 months (range 21-180). The mean follow-up period after revision surgery was 20 months (range 3-84). All the revision surgery was performed via an anterior Smith Peterson approach. The most common cause for redislocation was inadequate exposure and failure to release the obstructing soft tissues around the hip. The bony factors for redislocation included failure to perform a femoral shortening and excessive derotation of an anteverted femoral head combined with a Salter osteotomy. Three cases with posterior acetabular wall deficiency needed immobilization of the hip in extension as the hip tended to dislocate in flexion. Six patients had limb length discrepancy ranging from 1 cm to 4 cm and 50% developed avascular necrosis. Only 2 patients were asymptomatic and the majority had a limp and limitation of motion. All were pain free except one. In view of the technically demanding surgery and poor results after revision, the surgeon should recognize the pathology and ensure that the primary procedure achieves a stable and concentric reduction.
Matched MeSH terms: Hip Dislocation, Congenital/radiography; Hip Dislocation, Congenital/surgery*
Many authors agree that preliminary traction prior to closed or open reduction for congenital dislocation of the hip is helpful. Different ways of traction have been used and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. One of the problems in the very young child is the difficulty in maintaining a suitable traction that is biomechanically effective. We found that using a rocker bed made the traction more "user friendly" for the child, the parent and the doctors.
Matched MeSH terms: Hip Dislocation, Congenital/radiography; Hip Dislocation, Congenital/therapy*
Introduction: Hip spica casting is an important component of treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and popular treatment method for femur fractures in children. Breakage at the hip region is a relatively common problem of this cast. We have developed a three-slab technique of hip spica application using fibreglass as the cast material. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the physical durability of the spica cast and skin complications with its use. Methodology: A retrospective review of children with various conditions requiring hip spica immobilisation which was applied using our method. Study duration was from 1st of January 2014 until 31st December 2015. Our main outcomes were cast breakage and skin complications. For children with hip instability, the first cast would be changed after one month, and the second cast about two months later. Results: Twenty-one children were included, with an average age of 2.2 years. The most common indication for spica immobilisation was developmental dysplasia of the hip. One child had skin irritation after spica application. No spica breakage was noted. Conclusion: This study showed that the three-slab method of hip spica cast application using fibreglass material was durable and safe with low risk of skin complications.
Objective: To review the presentation and outcome of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) cases in the last 6 years. Methodology:We retrospectively reviewed the presentation as well as short and mid-term outcome of 17children (18 hips) with DDH seen and treated from 2004 to 2010. Treatment was either splinting with Pavlik harness,closed or open reduction depending on age at presentation and the individual needs of each patient. Results:Theaverage age at presentation was 31.1 months, and the male to female ratio was 1:4.6. Six patients (35%) presented early(less than 6 months old) while 7 patients (41%) presented between 6 -24 months. In these 2 groups splinting or closed reduction under anaesthesia was initially utilized for treatment depending on age, and open reduction was use dafter failure of closed reduction and for those presented late.Average age at the time of closed reduction was 11 months,and 6 years for those underwent open reduction. The average period of follow up for all patients was 29.4 months. The final outcome was successful in 12 hips (66%) in 11 patients.Ten of these presented at less than 2 years old, in the other 6 hips in which there was failure, 50% presented after 3 years of age. Conclusion:Late presentation of DDH is still common in Malaysia, which necessitates more complex management and more frequent occurrences of unfavourable results.
Delayed presentation of Developmental Dysplasia of Hip (DDH) comes with challenges in treatment as well as high surgical cost. Therefore the objective of this study is to quantify the economic impact of management of late presentation of DDH during a last 3-year period. We conducted a retrospective study with analysis of DDH cases managed between years 2012 to 2014. Early and late presentations of DDH were identified and cost management for both was estimated. Out of twenty-four DDH cases, thirteen cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All were female with majority of them presenting with unilateral DDH predominantly of the left hip. Most patients presented after age of six months and the principal complaint was abnormal or limping gait. The grand total cost for managing DDH during the three years period was USD 12,385.51, with 86% of the amount having been used to manage late presentation of DDH that was mostly contributed by the cost of surgery. We concluded that delayed presentation of DDH contributes heavily to high national expenditure. Early detection of DDH cases with systematic neonatal screening may help to minimize the incidence of the late presenting DDH and subsequently reduce the economic burden to the government.
Introduction: The radiographic classification for developmental dysplasia of hip to quantify the severity of disease consist of Tonnis and International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) classification. The Ossification center of the femoral head in DDH patient more than six months is still vague or eccentric, so the reliability of both classifications is still in question and especially is influenced by the experience of the observer. This study aims to test and compare interobserver reliability in evaluation of DDH patients using IHDI and Tonnis classification assessed by senior and junior orthopaedic residents which had different degree of experience. Materials and Methods: This study used retrospective analysis of pelvic supine AP view radiograph of DDH patients from 2014 to 2017. All three observer groups analysed the pelvis radiographs using Tonnis and IHDI classification. Inter and intra-observer reliability was measured by Cohen's and Fleiss Kappa method, respectively. Results: The Fleiss Kappa value for 15 radiographs of DDH patients assessed by senior residents using Tonnis and IHDI classification are 0.715 and 0.832 and result of Fleiss Kappa value assessed by junior residents are 0.577 and 0.845, respectively. Intra-observer reliability for Tonnis classification was lower in junior group compared to other two groups but showed almost perfect value in all groups for IHDI classification. Conclusion: Significantly different results were noted between junior and senior residents in assessing DDH severity, with higher diagnostic reliability in senior residents compared to junior residents. In general, junior resident has less clinical experiences in many aspects in comparison with the seniors.