Timing of Repeat Ultrasound Examination in Treatment of Stable Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide a wide variation exists in duration of Pavlik harness treatment for infants up to 6 months with stable developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether shortening the time to first routine follow-up ultrasound after initiation of Pavlik harness treatment would reduce treatment duration and whether this influenced radiologic outcome at 1 year of age. Furthermore, predictors of higher acetabular index (AI) at 1 year of age were investigated. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in infants with stable DDH (Graf IIb and IIc) diagnosed and treated between 2015 and 2017. Two groups were identified: first routine follow-up ultrasound at 12 weeks after Pavlik harness initiation (group I) and first routine follow-up ultrasound at 6 weeks after Pavlik harness initiation (group II). In both groups, treatment was continued until repeat ultrasound measurements (every 6 wk) showed a normalized hip. Radiologic outcome at 1 year of age was defined as residual dysplasia measured on an anteroposterior hip radiograph according to the Tönnis table. RESULTS: A total of 222 infants were included. The median time of Pavlik harness treatment was 12 weeks (interquartile range, 11.9 to 12.3) in group I compared with 6.1 weeks (interquartile range, 6.0 to 7.5) in group II (P<0.001). Residual dysplasia at 1 year of age was detected in 20 infants (16.8%) in group I compared with 11 infants (10.7%) in group II (P=0.189). The multivariable prediction model showed that positive family history and lower baseline alpha angle correlate with a higher AI at 1 year of age. CONCLUSIONS: First routine follow-up ultrasound can be safely brought forward from 12 to 6 weeks after Pavlik harness initiation. Furthermore, infants with a positive family history for DDH and an initial low alpha angle are at higher risk to have a higher AI at 1 year of age. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III-retrospective study.

Strategies to optimize the information provision for parents of children with developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Aims: The aim of this study was to identify the information topics that should be addressed according to the parents of children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in the diagnostic and treatment phase during the first year of life. Second, we explored parental recommendations to further optimize the information provision in DDH care. Methods: A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews was conducted between September and December 2020. A purposive sample of parents of children aged younger than one year, who were treated for DDH with a Pavlik harness, were interviewed until data saturation was achieved. A total of 20 interviews with 22 parents were conducted. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, independently reviewed, and coded into categories and themes. Results: Interviews revealed four fundamental information topics that should be addressed in the different phases of the DDH healthcare trajectory: general information (screening phase), patient-specific information (diagnostic and treatment phase), practical information (treatment phase), and future perspectives (treatment and follow-up phase). To further optimize the information provision in DDH care, parents wished for more accessible and trustworthy general information prior to the first hospital visit to be better prepared for the diagnosis. Furthermore, parents wanted more personalized and visually supported information for a better understanding of the nature of the disease and the reason for treatment. Conclusion: This study offers novel insights to optimize the information provision in DDH care. The main finding is the shift in information need from general information in the screening phase to patient-specific information in the diagnostic and treatment phase of DDH. Parents prefer visually-supported information, provided in a timely fashion, and tailored to their child's situation. These recommendations potentially decrease parental anxiety, insecurity, confusion, and increase parental empowerment and treatment adherence throughout the diagnostic and treatment phase of DDH.

[A teenager with a traumatic ankle injury]. / Een tiener met een traumatisch enkelletsel.

A 13-year-old girl presented to the traumatology outpatient clinic with a painful right ankle after an inversion trauma. She was unable to bear weight on the right foot. Additional radiographic imaging and CT-scan revealed a Tillaux fracture of the right ankle. As the fracture fragment was displaced 8 mm, open reduction and screw fixation was performed to restore the anatomy of the ankle joint.

[A boy with acute pain in his right buttock]. / Een jongen met acute pijn in de bil.

A 14-year-old boy presented to the emergency department with pain in his right buttock after a breakdance move. He got injured while simultaneously hyperflexing his hip and extending his knee. Upon physical examination he had tenderness over his right ischial tuberosity and an inability to perform combined hip extension and knee flexion. Radiography and CT-imaging showed an avulsion fracture of the ischial tuberosity.