Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

So on top of all the other craparoo going on in my life, I had to take Imogen for a scan on her hips (as apparently this is done on all babies who are breech in the womb) and the doctor thinks that she has a slightly abnormal right hip...great.

So we are waiting to go to see a pediatric consultant and if Immi does have a problem with her right hip, best case scenario is 3-6 months in a Pavlik Harness (looks like a torture device) and worse case scenario is surgery. I am hoping they are all wrong and everything is fine with my gorgeous girl, but I was wondering if anyone has any experience with hip dyslpasia and the wearing of one of these harnesses! Just want to know if its all as horrible as it looks!!!

Thanks in advance!!!

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

no advice - just

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

I know that Tara (MrsS518) went through this with her daughter.

Lots of and for you and your beauty!

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

DS was tested because my ped. felt that his hip was off, but the scan showed he was perfect, and they told me on the spot! Hope the same happens for your DD! In his case he was too strong, and when they tried to turn his hip, he wouldn't move the hip, so they assumed it couldn't move.

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

Our ped knew she was breech for so long they did a sono a few hours after she was born. She has it in both hips. She wore a harness for 8 weeks and it corrected the left hip the right hip 8months later is still coming out of the socked. She is wearing a difference brace now. She wears it for 16hrs a day we put it on for bedtime. She was in no pain with the harness.it def looked liked it. I'll be honest and say it was tuff to deal with for me. I didn't handle having her in the brace well at all but now I look back and it did fix her left hip. She's wearing a less strappy brace now and the only prob with it is that she has a hard time flipping when she sleeps. My dd's case is more server then others so that's why this is an on going thing for us. We have a few more months of this new brace and I'm praying it works for her if not she will ne surgery.the 8 weeks flew by! You don't believe it now but it really did!! If you have any questions please fm me

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

My friend had to deal with this with both her girls. Her 1st daughter was breech and had to wear the harness for 4 months. Her NB daughter, same thing..breech and they just evaluated her having it with both hips. So she is going to be in the harness as well.

It's just a PITA. It looks uncomfortable with the angle it has to keep their legs. Diaper changes were a PITA. It never seemed to bother her at all. It was just something "normal" for her since she was so young.

But it helps, that's the main thing and she (her 1st DD) avoided surgery and is a completely fine, 100%, running toddler :)

Message edited 4/14/2010 9:04:45 AM.

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

Posted by nov04libride

DS was tested because my ped. felt that his hip was off, but the scan showed he was perfect, and they told me on the spot! Hope the same happens for your DD!

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

We have a cousin who had a DD with this. Unfortunately, it was not caught early enough. So even though she wore the harness it didn't correct it.

She did have surgery at 4 months old. Wore a cast until she was about 7 months old. Has never had a problem since.

If you want more info, let me know. I can get it for you.

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

DD was also breech and had hip dysplasia. She did wear the pavlik harness for 8 weeks We were fortunate that it was caught right away and the harness was put on her at 5 days old. It is not a torture device although I looked at it that way, too. She did have to wear it 20 hrs a day and it was very annoying. But it is a condition that can be corrected early on with no discomfort to your DD. You are fortunate that your DD is only a few weeks old. And of course she could not even have hip dysplasia! So keep your head up and everything will be fine!! Please feel free to ask me any questions at all!!

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the support! I know its great they found it early and its probably going to be harder on me than it is on her, but you want everything to be perfect don't you?

Thanks again!

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

Posted by racheeeee

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the support! I know its great they found it early and its probably going to be harder on me than it is on her, but you want everything to be perfect don't you?

Thanks again!

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

DD has/had this.

They found it immediately upon her first full checkup in the hospital.

A pediatric orth did a followup exam with her in the hospital and confirmed it-she has hip dysplasia in her right hip (the socket did not form correctly).

At about 1 week old she was put in the Pavlik Harness. I cried when I saw it-I just didn't know how I could hold her, change a diaper, how she could ever be comfortable in it, etc etc etc.

However, it was soooo much easier than I though. We took the harness off 1x per day for her bath and to let her stretch. She never seemed bothered or agitated by it at all. We cuddled all the time, I was surprised how easily she still fit in her car seat, etc.

It takes a little getting used to but it really wasn't as bad as I thought and she only ended up needed it for 2 months instead of the expected 4.

The harness is effective in about 80% of all cases. If it doesn't work, there are other harnesses and braces they can try and eventually surgery if needed. All of these makes hip dysplasia 99% curable and for that I am thankful.

DD is now 2.5 old and a maniac-running, dancing, etc. She is also super flexible and I often find her sleeping with her legs in an outward position as if she was still in a harness. So, we are enrolling her in dance and gymnastics because I think she will be the next Nadia Comaneci

I'm sorry you are going through this, I now it's hard at first. If you have questions-please feel free to reach out to me

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

no personal experience but my friends dd had this and had to wear the brace for the first 4-5 months of life

in the beginning it was tough but she got used to it and is doing wonderfully now

Re: Hip Dysplasia and Pavlik Harnesses

i had it, wore a brace for a few months, and now at almost 24 years old im perfectly fine.