Grant: Project Grant

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is the most common hip condition in children, affecting 1-3% of all newborns. DDH can range from mild to severe; some children have mild dysplasia, while others can have completely dislocated hips. Regardless of severity, early detection is key to ensure children have the best outcome, and their quality of life is not impacted. Surgery can often be avoided if it is caught during the first few months of life. When caught early, a brace that keeps the child's hips in the proper position is the most frequently used treatment. While a great option to hopefully prevent surgery, the brace can disrupt important mother-baby bonding time in the newborn period. It can also present challenges to daily family life such as diaper-changes, dressing and needing specialized car seats. In babies with mild DDH, some studies have suggested that bracing may not be necessary, and their hips may improve naturally as they grow and develop. However, many of these studies have been done at single hospitals, with small numbers of patients, or have looked at patients retrospectively. Our proposed study will look at whether careful monitoring of a baby's hips can be just as good as bracing to ensure their hips improve for babies diagnosed with mild DDH under three months of age. If that is the case, then unnecessary treatment can be avoided, especially during that newborn bonding period. This will be the first study to look at this question with babies being treated at fourteen different hospitals in seven different countries, so the results will make an impact on children and families worldwide.