For a very long time, in modern medicine, an erroneous opinion prevailed that congenital dislocation of the hip is due to the sad result of careless actions of obstetricians in the process of childbirth. Of course, one should not exclude the carelessness and inexperience of doctors, but such cases are single, but in most clinical pictures this anomaly is intrauterine in nature, that is, it forms in the fetus even in the womb under the influence of a number of pathological factors.
First, it is necessary to clarify that congenital dislocation of the hip is one of the most severe pathologies in children in the field of orthopedics. A presumptive diagnosis is made even in the hospital in the presence of characteristic symptoms, but it is important to clarify that only a clinical study can confirm it or refute it radically. Today, a complete recovery can be achieved with timely, long and persistent treatment, which is advisable to start from the first days of life. A patient is considered absolutely healthy if a complete restoration of the function and structure of the hip joint is observed on an x-ray.
Judging by the causes of this pathological process, it should be noted that there are several fundamental factors contributing to its exacerbation. One of the pathogenic causes is the so-called primary bookmark defect, that is, the abnormal development of the hip joint and the surrounding muscle mass, the other is a delay in the development of the fetus during fetal life, due to a violation of hormonal and vitamin metabolism. Also, a genetic factor is not excluded, that is, there is a hereditary predisposition to this disease.
Congenital dislocation of the hip joint has its own characteristic symptoms, the manifestation of which should alert the watchful parents, who, in turn, should immediately seek the advice of a specialist.
1. Symptom of a tangible click.
2. Limited abduction of the hips.
3. The asymmetry of the gluteal folds.
4. Shortening one of the limbs.
5. External rotation of the legs.
One way or another, these are just alarming signals for parents, the final diagnosis can be made by a specialist solely on the results of an ultrasound scan (up to 3 months of age) and x-rays (from 3 months of age), and it should be clarified that the x-ray gives a more accurate picture about the prevailing clinical picture.
Congenital dislocation of the thigh in children, in whatever form it appears, requires immediate treatment. In modern orthopedics, there are two ways to solve this problem: surgical and conservative, but which one should be decided exclusively by the leading orthopedist, judging by the degree of complexity and form of the disease, and also based on the characteristics of the child's body.
If the disease is diagnosed on time, then the conservative method is very productive. A small patient is prescribed a massage complex, paraffin, body wraps, therapeutic exercises, and also an orthopedic splint is selected for him, which allows him to hold the baby's legs in a bent position in the knee and hip joints at an angle of ninety degrees (at a right angle) and abduction in the hip joints, which contributes to their proper formation and development.
If we talk about the operable method, then it is appropriate only in the case when a congenital dislocation of the hip has long been untreatable and prevails in a neglected form. It is also appropriate when conservative treatment was useless.
One thing is unambiguously clear: a congenital dislocation of the thigh requires accurate diagnosis and productive treatment that can fully restore the performance of a once-sick joint.