The Use of Visual Analysis for Gait and Foot Posture in Children with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is recognized as a leading cause of significant long-term complications, including inaccurate gait patterns, persistent pain, and early regressive joint disorder, and it can influence families functionally, socially, and psychologically.

This study aimed to determine foot posture and gait analysis across patients with developmental hip dysplasia. We retrospectively reviewed participants referred to the pediatric rehabilitation department of KASCH from the orthopedic clinic between 2016 and 2022 (patients born 2016-2022) with DDH for conservative brace treatment.

The foot postural index for the right foot showed a mean of 5.89 (n = 203, SD 4.15) and the left food showed a mean of 5.94 (n = 203, SD 4.19). The gait analysis mean was 6.44 (n = 406, SD 3.84). The right lower limb mean was 6.41 (n = 203, SD 3.78), and the left lower limb mean was 6.47 (n = 203, SD 3.91). The correlation for general gait analysis was r = 0.93, presenting the very high impact of DDH on gait. Significant correlation results were found between the right (r = 0.97) and left (r = 0.25) lower limbs. Variation between the right and left lower limb p-values was 0.88 (p < 0.05). DDH affects the left lower limb more than the right during gait.

We conclude that there is a higher risk of developing foot pronation on the left side, which is altered by DDH. Gait analysis has shown that DDH affects the right lower limb more than the left. The results of the gait analysis showed gait deviation in the sagittal mid- and late stance phases.