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Update on Our Daughter’s Hip Dysplasia

Natalie just went back for her latest checkup. We received rather good news. According to the doctor everyone hips have a specific angle that they need to be at. They would prefer that Natalie’s hips are less than twenty degrees. Currently, the one that required surgery is at 26, which is about six degrees less than what it was at a year ago. The other is at 23. This one is two degrees less than it was. So things are improving!

The doctor says that she will need to wear her brace at night still for at least another six months. This is fine though as long as her hip problem continues to improve.

One other thing that I found interesting that the doctor said is that when she had her surgery she had no ball for her hip. This is usually built as pressure is put on it and it naturally forms. Since her leg was never in the socket, it didn’t form. After the surgery and everything was in place, this was supposed to put it in a good position to form properly. It did and everything was fine. However, the doctor noted that on some children that part of the bone can actually die. I’m not sure exactly what is required to correct that, but it sounds like another surgery would be required.

If your child has experienced this, please let us know so we can provide others with more information about it.