Question
A child, now 1 year old, has hip dysplasia and cannot live a normal life.
Answer
Clinical observation of the following abnormalities can be noticed by parents or caregivers, indicating a unilateral complete dislocation or subluxation:
- Both legs are of uneven length, and the affected side has reduced mobility.
- One side (the affected limb) of the hip joint is less easy to abduct.
- The skin creases on both sides of the inner thigh, inguinal area, perineum, or buttocks are asymmetrical.
- The trochanter of the affected side is outwardly convex upwards. Medical staff can use the following physical examination programs to evaluate and diagnose:
- The hip joint is unstable and can be dislocated outwardly or can be reduced.
- The affected hip joint does not move synchronously with the pelvis.
- When the legs are bent at 90 degrees, the affected side is lower. X-ray examination is not very helpful for infants aged 3 to 4 months, generally used to analyze and judge the condition of skeletal dysplasia. If there is only dysplasia, the above examinations are not easy to detect.