Question
My older child doesn’t walk very steadily; they often limp. It worries me a lot. A friend said it resembles congenital hip dislocation, as her colleague’s child had the same issue. What are the symptoms of congenital hip dislocation?
Answer
Dear parent, the clinical symptoms of newborns and infants with congenital hip dislocation are usually not prominent and often go unnoticed by parents. When young children exhibit a limping gait, it is often the only complaint when they visit a doctor. A unilateral hip dislocation presents as limping, while bilateral dislocation is characterized by a duck-like walk. The child’s buttocks appear prominent, with an increased anterior lumbar convexity, and the affected limb shows significant shortening and deformity. Besides shortening, other manifestations may include muscle deformities such as adductor deformities.