Hip Click

[mucker]

We've had a little girl, she's just over 1 month now. Everything seemed to be fine in the hospital, but then a doctor came around and asked us to have an x-ray. Obviously I wanted to know why and the guy had some difficulty explaining, I think he didn't want to make me worried, but him being hesitant to tell me got me more stressed than a simple answer would have.

Anyway, we took the x-ray and after looking he said there was a possibility that the child would need some slight surgery to amend this 'looseness' between the hip and leg, which was causing the click. I thought he was possibly setting us up for an expensive medical scam. But, it's been on my mind and now she's older I can sometimes hear the clicking sound when I pick her up, so I've put the scam down to my paranoid tendencies.

I would appreciate replies from people with some experience of this kind of situation, specifically hip click in new borns and young children and how it played out. I'm not happy about the idea of surgery and would like to explore other alternatives.

[Mario2008]

As this is a medical question, you migth be better of in the health forum.

Moved to there.

[mucker]

Thank you Mario.

[mucker]

Maybe you could move it back, Mario. No one here remembers what it's like to have a real hip.

[FBN]

This may be Congenital Hip Dysplasia; you can Google that. The tests for this is the Barlow and Ortonlani manoevers; the physician manipulates the hip by the upper legs with the baby in supine position and this elicits the click. X-rays are not useful as the baby's hip joints are not calcified and does not show up on X-ray but an ultrasound is useful.

It is very important to have this diagnosed early as it may require special spliniting of the hips. Surgery is usually not done at this stage.

Best get to a pediatric orthopedic specialist at one of the University or large private hospitals.

[Mario2008]

Maybe you could move it back, Mario. No one here remembers what it's like to have a real hip.

I think above is the answer you were looking for, so I will leave it here.

Thai government provincial hospitals and university hopsitals are very good and cheap. It just is a long wait and you want to make sure you get a doctor who also lectures at the university. Most wil have a private practise and you could see the doctor for the first consult at his private practise and than do the follow up at the government hospital.

[mucker]

This may be Congenital Hip Dysplasia; you can Google that. The tests for this is the Barlow and Ortonlani manoevers; the physician manipulates the hip by the upper legs with the baby in supine position and this elicits the click. X-rays are not useful as the baby's hip joints are not calcified and does not show up on X-ray but an ultrasound is useful.

It is very important to have this diagnosed early as it may require special spliniting of the hips. Surgery is usually not done at this stage.

Best get to a pediatric orthopedic specialist at one of the University or large private hospitals.

Thank you FBN, that was good information. I'm particularly happy that, after diagnosis of course, surgery will not be needed. Thanks again.

[ceylan]

My daughter had the same condition. She is now 3 and is fine. It is very very important to find out as much information as you can to help you understand the treatment. I found this website very useful http://www.steps-charity.org.uk/links/4-15-developmental_dysplasia_of_the_hip_ddh.php

Early treatment is key with this condition and your daughter is the right age to avoid needing surgery, by using a harness to hold her hip in the correct position as the hip joint forms. An x ray is pointless at this age. Has she been seen by a specialist orthopedic pediatrician? You need to make sure you have the right diagnosis.

I am happy to answer any questions you might have..we are moving to Bangkok at the end of Feb and if you need any help or support with this let me know. It is really daunting at first but you will get through it and Im sure your daughter will be fine..mine is running jumping and having dance class!

Good luck

[FBN]

Ceylan,

Thanks for posting! Nothing like talking to someone with first-hand experience; doctor's advice tend to cover only the scientific and medical aspects but, as this can be a long term treatment that does require lots of dedication from the parents, the day to day support issues are an entirely different part of managing this..