Hip Problems
18CHAPTER
155
DISLOCATED HIPS
A hip is dislocated when the thigh
bone is out of its socket at the hip.
Some babies are born with one or both
hips already dislocated. Sometimes
these babies have no other problem.
With early treatment, the problem can
often be corrected easily, and the child
will not be disabled or have a limp.
NORMAL HIP:
The round
head of the
thigh bone
is inside
the hip
socket.
DISLOCATED
HIP: The
head of the
thigh bone
often lies
above the
socket.
For this reason it is important to examine all babies when they are 10 days old to see
whether they have dislocated hips.
1. Compare the 2 legs. If one hip is dislocated, that side may show
these signs:
• the upper leg partly covers this part of the body
• there are fewer skin folds
• the leg may seem shorter, or turn out at a strange angle
2. Hold both legs
with the knees
bent, like
this,
and open them
wide, like this.
If one leg
stops early
or makes a
jump or click
when you
open it wide,
the hip is
dislocated.
3. To test a slightly
older child, bend the
knees and compare
their height.
If one knee
is lower,
the hip on
that side is
probably
dislocated.
Treatment
Keep the baby with his knees high and wide apart. To do this,
• use many
thicknesses
of diapers
(nappies)
like this,
• or pin his legs
• like this (when
the baby sleeps),
• or carry
the baby
like
this.
In places where babies are traditionally carried with their legs spread on the woman’s hips
or back, usually no other treatment is necessary.