Dysplasia in children: causes and treatment

Dysplasia in children (ICD-10: M24.8) today is becoming an increasingly common pathology. For the most part, we are talking about congenital disorders of physical development, which are manifested in the first six months of the baby's life. Most often, in medical practice, dysplasia of the knee and hip joint is encountered. We will talk about what causes the appearance of dysplasia in children, as well as how treatment of this pathology is carried out, in our article.

Common causes of development

A great influence on congenital dysplasia is exerted by the lifestyle with the nutrition of the mother during the period of gestation. The reasons for the occurrence of the disease can be very many. The main factors include hormonal disorders with metabolic disorders in a woman who is in position. Lack of calcium in maternal blood is almost the main reason, which is why the child subsequently develops dysplasia. The use of alcohol has a negative effect, and in addition, drugs or nicotine if the expectant mother smokes. In addition, joint dysplasia in children can form under the influence of the following factors:

• Passing bad heredity.
• The presence of severe toxicosis in the mother, as well as gestosis.
• Infectious diseases that a woman suffered during her pregnancy.
• Life in a bad environment.
• Harmful work.
• The onset of late pregnancy.
• The presence of overweight mother during pregnancy.
• Incorrect position of the fetus in the womb.

How is dysplasia in children determined?

To prevent the irreversible consequences that may result from neglect of the disease, it is necessary to determine the development of this disease in a timely manner. It will only be possible to identify the pathology of the hip joint only if it is obvious. But the disease of the knee joint is determined more simply, since this pathology is visually visible.

Dysplasia in children up to a year can be established immediately after the mother and the baby are at home. It is necessary to swaddle the baby and put it on his back, then bend the legs and spread the hips. Then rotational movements are performed, while you need to take on the hips of the baby. In the event that there is hip dysplasia in children, then they will move in different ways, and pushing the hips to the full extent will not work. In addition, the pathology of the hip joint manifests itself in a child with different lengths of legs.

Pathology of the knee joint is easier to identify. You should put the baby on his stomach and bend his knees. In the event that there is a pathology, then it will become noticeable immediately. If any symptoms are found, you must go to the hospital. After the maternity hospital, a nurse will visit the newly minted mother with the child. You need to ask her to carefully examine for possible dysplasia. Next, we consider in detail which particular symptoms accompany the development of dysplasia in children.

Hip dysplasia and its symptoms

What are the symptoms if a child has hip dysplasia? First of all, this pathology will manifest itself in the following:

• The presence of a shortening of one of the hips. This symptom occurs when the head of the hip joint is shifted relative to the acetabulum. This phenomenon is called a congenital dislocation, it is considered the most severe form of pathology. You can see the displacement if you put the child on his back, and then bend his legs. Against this background, it will become apparent that the knees are at different levels.
• The presence of asymmetry of skin folds. This symptom is especially pronounced in babies up to three months. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the asymmetry of the folds against the background of bilateral lesions of the hip joint is almost invisible. In this regard, the information content of this symptom is maximum in the presence of deformation of the joint of one leg. As part of the diagnosis, you need to examine the popliteal, buttock and inguinal fold. They can have a different shape or depth, located at different levels. On the leg with a dislocation, more folds are observed. For the diagnosis of dysplasia, this symptom is not enough, since it also occurs among healthy children.
• Limited hip abduction for hip dysplasia in children. To determine this sign, the child is laid on his back, and his legs are bent to the sides. In newborns, the angle is ninety degrees. At an older age (about eight months), this figure can be reduced to sixty degrees. The presence of hip dislocation is indicated by the possibility of abduction by only forty percent.
• The presence of a symptom of slipping. This symptom was discovered at the beginning of the last century, but this test remains the most informative method for determining joint dysplasia today. The doctor puts the baby on his back, slowly spreading his legs to the side. In the presence of dysplasia, a shock may be felt at this time, since the articular head is shifted. In healthy children, against the background of abduction, the legs almost completely touch the surface located under them.

The determination of the presence of dysplasia in children is carried out by an orthopedic surgeon who does this as part of the initial examination of the newborn. It is sometimes difficult to independently determine the mild form of this pathology, and therapy is most effective precisely at the initial stage of the development of the disease. Against the background of dysplasia, the child may experience pain during hip abduction. You can also notice the difference between the inguinal folds. True, similar symptoms are common to many other diseases.

It is not possible to accurately determine joint dysplasia in children only by external signs, since a more detailed examination is required. Therefore, it is important to show the child to a specialist if there is at least some suspicion of rejection. The first examination by a doctor is carried out immediately after birth, and then it is carried out regularly every couple of months. In the event that developmental disorders occurred immediately on both legs, then only a doctor can determine this, since outwardly such a deformation will not be visible.

Conducting a timely diagnosis of dysplasia in early childhood is very important. For example, in adults, this pathology is the cause of the development of coxarthrosis of the hip joint. People who suffer from it are usually tormented by severe pain, experiencing difficulties during movement, and as a result are disabled. In addition, dysplasia can provoke a violation of posture, contributing to the development of arthrosis. Let us now find out what causes hip dysplasia in newborns.

Causes of Hip Dysplasia

There are many reasons for the development of hip dysplasia, consider the most common of them:

• Violation during pregnancy. At this time, relaxin is produced in the woman’s body. This hormone helps soften the femoral and sacral joints. These joints must be flexible so that childbirth is easy. Along with this, the pelvic bones also acquire mobility. Having an effect on the bones of a pregnant woman, relaxin also affects the bone tissue of the child. The bones of the baby are still very poorly formed, so they are extremely injured. In this regard, if the mother’s hip joints are resistant to such effects, then the baby may experience their deformation, which consists in the fact that the joint head extends beyond the acetabulum. That is why most children are diagnosed with dysplasia after birth. Gradually, the presence of deformation in the joint is eliminated. Sometimes this requires the help of doctors. But often this process goes without external help.
• Women who are pregnant with their first child may be at risk. Against the background of the first pregnancy, the body produces the greatest amount of relaxin. In addition, girls are most characteristic of dysplasia, because relaxin has a strong effect on their joints, which is due to greater plasticity compared to boys.
• Big weight of the fetus. In the event that the weight of the newborn exceeds three kilograms, this may create some difficulties leading to the development of dysplasia. The cause of this phenomenon is an increased load on the baby's hip joints. In addition, the fetus’s large weight or too little body weight limits its ability to move in the womb. This can also lead to joint dysplasia in children. We will consider treatment below.
• The cause of the development of pathology can serve as the gluteal birth. When the baby comes forward booty, the hip joint is most often deformed. At the same time, the joint head comes out of the acetabulum, because the bones of the newborn are too plastic. Avoiding such a problem makes it possible to perform a caesarean section. Therefore, in the event that an ultrasound report indicates a non-standard location of the fetus, it makes sense to think about conducting such an operation.
• The presence of a genetic predisposition. In women who have had such dysplasia, the risk of giving birth to a baby with a similar disease is much higher compared to other women in labor.
• Performing tight swaddling. This procedure creates additional pressure on the hip joints, increasing the risk of their deformation. In underdeveloped states in which children are not swaddled at all, the problem of dysplasia hardly arises. In Japan, at one time, a special experiment was even carried out, which consisted in the introduction of a ban on tight swaddling of infants. As a result, a significant decrease in the incidence of joint dysplasia in children was recorded. Massage is also effective.
• The appearance of deformity of the feet. This deformation is the cause of gait disturbance, which in turn provokes hip dysplasia. For example, in the presence of clubfoot with age, people often have dislocations with subluxations.
• Stay in a bad environment. The incidence of dysplasia is much higher in places of the planet with poor ecology. Experts suggest that toxins along with environmental pollution cause deformation of the skeletal system in babies.

Hip dysplasia can be prevented if the possibility of the appearance of this pathology during intrauterine development is determined in time. If the risk of developing dysplasia is predicted during gestation, caesarean section is recommended to subsequently avoid joint problems in the child.

The appearance of dysplasia of the knee

Consider other symptoms of dysplasia in children.

In the case of development of knee dysplasia, the calyx is usually deformed, resulting in bone wear. A feature of this type of dysplasia is that the disease can develop in different areas of the legs.

Against the background of the development of this pathology, curvature of the legs in a child is possible. The main symptoms in this disorder appear in the form of pain during any movement, in addition, joint deformation is noted. The consequences of untimely treatment can be very serious. Against this background, a child may develop an irreversible change in the spine and leg bones.

Pathology diagnostics

In the event that the signs of dysplasia in the child were found directly in the hospital, then a diagnosis in the form of an ultrasound scan is prescribed immediately. I must say that a severe form of deviation is observed extremely rarely. Mild dysplasia in preterm infants is much more common.

After examination by a pediatrician, babies are sent for various examinations that confirm or refute the diagnosis. Grudnichkov in the first thirty days of life, as a rule, is not subjected to any research. But from the second month you can already visit the orthopedist. According to the testimony of this specialist, an ultrasound examination of the hip or knee joints can be prescribed. If there is a need for additional examinations, then from three months of age they can send the baby to an x-ray. Such medical studies do not adversely affect the children's body. According to the results, the doctor will determine what kind of treatment is required. Next, we will understand how the therapy of this pathology is currently being carried out.

Treatment of dysplasia in children

A major role in the selection of treatment methods is played by children at the time of diagnosis of the disease. If a mild form of the disease is detected during the time when the child has not yet reached the age of six months, conservative treatment is used, since during this period the femoral head can return to its place without serious medical interventions. Immediately after the child is six months old, more serious therapy may be prescribed. As for the conservative treatment of dysplasia in children, it is usually carried out through swaddling, gymnastics and massage.

Swaddling

Swaddling can be an excellent prevention of mild dysplasia. This method helps to treat mild articular disorders. Thus, cloth diapers should be used for swaddling. The fabric, which is placed between the legs of the baby, captures the movement of the hips, and the use of wide wrapping with a diaper allows the legs to move freely. As part of the restoration of bone dysplasia in children up to three months, the use of swaddling and gymnastics is sometimes sufficient.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics should be carried out from the first days of the baby's life. This is a fairly simple procedure that can prevent the development of pathology. Performing gymnastics is not at all difficult. Rotate with the hips while bending and unbending the legs. It is required to carry out any exercises very carefully so as not to accidentally harm the child.

Massage

The course of massage for a child with dysplasia should be prescribed by an orthopedist. At first, a specialist should also perform such a procedure. However, in a few sessions, after receiving a consultation and doctor’s instructions, it will be possible to massage the child with hip dysplasia and at home alone. This is not difficult.

Medical treatment

Treatment with the use of medications is prescribed in more severe cases of dysplasia in children up to a year and at an older age. Against the background of severe forms of pathology, it is especially important not to self-medicate. Any drugs that a child takes should be given strictly according to a medical prescription. Medications for treating hip dysplasia in children usually include corticosteroid medications along with hyaluronic acid injections.

Commit commit

After the baby is six months old, a slightly different approach can be applied to the treatment of dysplasia. In cases of development of hip dysplasia, children are prescribed to wear special tires that fix the affected hips in the required position. If the child suffers from knee dysplasia, then he is prescribed to wear special knee pads that are designed to fix the damaged part of the legs.

Surgery

In the most advanced cases, doctors prescribe surgery. During surgery, the affected joint can be replaced with an artificial analogue. True, unfortunately, not always operations give a guarantee of a full recovery. Sometimes there is a risk that the functionality of the joints will not be fully restored.

Thus, joint dysplasia in children is a very serious disease that requires timely diagnosis and proper treatment. In the event that such a violation is not corrected in time, this can provoke extremely serious consequences in the form of bone deformation, the development of duck gait and the appearance of pain that will constantly bother a person. In this regard, every woman who plans a child should enrich her body with a sufficient calcium content, and in addition, any bad habits must be abandoned.

Fibrous dysplasia in children or osteodysplasia is a fairly serious disease that impedes the normal functioning of the musculoskeletal system. It occurs equally often in both adults and children.

Pathology can occur for many reasons. There is a pathogenic damage to the bone tissue. , - . , .

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It manifests itself after disconnecting the baby from mechanical ventilation. The child has a high respiratory rate, the face turns blue, a cough occurs, the gaps between the ribs are pulled during breathing, the exhalation lengthens, and a whistle is heard.

The treatment uses oxygen therapy, diet therapy, medications.