Conservative treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip in Kuwait

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Background:

• Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common pediatric condition.
• Conservative management is a primary treatment approach for DDH.
• Evaluating treatment outcomes is crucial for refining clinical protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the outcomes of conservative treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip.
• To identify complications associated with conservative DDH treatment.
• To determine the impact of patient age on treatment success and complications.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective evaluation of 69 patients (99 hips) treated for DDH.
• Conservative treatment involved traction, manipulation, and tenotomies (adductor longus, psoas).
• Follow-up averaged 3 years, with outcomes assessed based on age and complications.

Main Results:

• 16% of hips developed avascular necrosis of the femoral head.
• Persistent acetabular dysplasia, subluxation, or dislocation occurred in 35 hips.
• Higher complication rates were observed in patients over 15 months of age.

Conclusions:

• Conservative treatment for DDH is associated with significant complication rates.
• Age is a critical factor, with poorer outcomes in infants older than 15 months.
• The treatment protocol was revised to limit conservative management to infants under 14 months.