The Evolution of DDH Management in India

Developmental dysplasia of hip (DDH) is a relatively common disorder of the paediatric age group and can have a significant impact on the quality of life, if left untreated. Some research has been done in this field from India over the past many decades, thereby helping to attain the present state of knowledge about DDH. Through this review, an attempt was made to identify and acknowledge important contributions in this field from India.

To provide some historical aspects and summarise the evidence developed in India concerning different facets of DDH since 1920.

Information about the evolution of DDH management in India was collated from recollections of the senior author (ANJ), from existing records, and contributions from senior Paediatric Orthopaedic surgeons of the country. The Medline database was searched for Indian literature concerning different aspects of DDH. All studies published in English language were included. Included studies were categorised into original studies, reviews, book chapters, case series and case reports, and their contribution to the understanding of DDH was highlighted.

The analysis showed 63 published studies on DDH from India. The majority of publications occurred between 2011 and 2020. Retrospective cohort studies and reviews comprised 46% of the published literature.

There is a scarcity of research on DDH from India, with many knowledge gaps still prevalent. The overall quality of published literature is poor, with very few good quality original research. However, an increasing trend for research on different aspects of DDH was observed.