Development and implementation of an interdisciplinary one-stop clinic for infant hip dysplasia: A pilot study

The authors hypothesized that establishing a one-stop clinic for the management of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) at our institution would enhance screening procedures, referral processes, patient compliance, early diagnosis, and timely treatment for this condition. To inform clinical practice, the authors conducted a collaborative development of flowcharts for evidence-based patient care protocols, based on the Graf method and patient journey optimization.

A weekly DDH clinic was established in a tertiary/quaternary public teaching hospital in Brazil, integrating pediatrics, radiology, and orthopedics. Flowcharts were collaboratively designed during ten interdisciplinary meetings. As a pilot study, the authors included an initial cohort involved in an observational retrospective study during the period from October 2023 to December 2024.

A novel system of grouping Graf types and subtypes was presented, accompanied by a treatment algorithm and phased therapeutic approach, based on the underlying hip pathology and immediate therapeutic requirements to promote hip centralization and acetabular development. A total of 98 infants were examined at the clinic during the specified period, with 22 receiving non-surgical treatment utilizing the Pavlik harness.

The establishment of a one-stop DDH clinic demonstrated a successful interdisciplinary approach, contributing to early diagnosis and effective treatment of DDH. The collaborative development of flowcharts facilitated the standardization of patient management protocols. Continued refinement of screening procedures and data collection methods is necessary to optimize care and inform future research on DDH management.