Costs of abduction treatment in developmental dysplasia of the hip. Analysis of 900 patients.

BACKGROUND: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a disorder of hip development that leads to dysplasia, subluxation, or total hip dislocation. Early detection of DDH is important, and early initiation of abduction treatment is key to successful correction of the hip joint. However, mild forms of DDH, including hip instability without complete dislocation, have good spontaneous healing potential, and a watchful waiting strategy in mild DDH has been found to be safe. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cost differences between different treatment strategies for DDH. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from the medical records of all children diagnosed with diagnosis and treatment of DDH in Tampere University hospital between 1998 and 2018. In total, 948 patients were included in the study. Patients who underwent casting or operative treatment (n = 48) were excluded from the analysis. All Ortolani positive children were subjected to early abduction treatment. Children with Ortolani negative DDH were subjected to either watchful waiting or early abduction treatment, based on the clinicians' decision. The regression model estimates for the number of clinical visits with and without ultrasound examination were assessed together with cost reports from Tampere University Hospital for the calculation of savings per patient in spontaneous recovery. RESULTS: Alpha angles at one month of age (p < 0.001) and treatment method (p < 0.001) affected the number of clinical visits and ultrasound examinations during the treatment follow-up. A low alpha angle predicted closer follow-up, and children with spontaneous recovery had lower numbers of clinical visits and ultrasound examinations than children in abduction treatment. Spontaneous recovery was found to result in approximately 375€/patient savings compared to successful abduction treatment. CONCLUSION: With correct patient selection, a watchful waiting strategy is cost-effective in treating mild developmental dysplasia of the hip, considering the high percentage of spontaneous recovery.

Watchful waiting strategy should be implemented to clinical practice when treating mild DDH as it seems safe and cost effective.

Known risk factors of the developmental dysplasia of the hip predicting more severe clinical presentation and failure of Pavlik harness treatment.

PURPOSE: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) varies from mild instability of the hip to subluxation or total dislocation of the joint. Well-known risk factors of DDH include pre-natal breech position, female sex, positive family history, hip side, primiparity and the mode of delivery. Aim of the present study was to further evaluate known risk-factors of DDH, find associations with more severe dysplasia (characterized with Ortolani positivity) and find risk factors of failure of the Pavlik harness treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All children with the diagnosis of DDH treated in Tampere University hospital in the years 1998-2018 were retrospectively identified for the study and the data was collected from the medical records. Teratological dislocations (n = 3) were excluded from the analysis. Total of 945 patients were included. RESULTS: Breech presentation was strongly associated with Ortolani positivity (p < 0.001). Breech presentation was not associated with ending up for spica casting and/or operative treatment (p = 0.291) despite the association with Ortolani positivity. Ortolani positivity (p = 0.002), positive family history (p = 0.013) and girl sex (p = 0.029) were associated with ending up for spica casting and/or operative treatment. CONCLUSION: Breech presentation seems to increase the risk of Ortolani positive DDH. However, these infants are likely to recover with initially started Pavlik harness treatment, as it was not associated with elevated risk for undergoing more robust treatments. Positive family history and girl sex are associated with the most severe cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip, and it may predispose to the failure of the Pavlik harness treatment.

Clinical and sonographic improvement of developmental dysplasia of the hip: analysis of 948 patients.

BACKGROUND: Developmental dysplasia of the hip is a common condition, which varies in severity. Abduction treatment is widely used to correct the development of the hips, but mild forms of DDH can also recover spontaneously. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors affecting the rate of improvement of developmental dysplasia of the hip, and evaluate any risk factors slowing the process. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population consisted of patients diagnosed with DDH in Tampere University hospital in the years 1998-2018. Data were retrospectively collected, and associations between clinical variables and rate of improvement were analyzed. Alpha angles were assessed monthly, and associations between risk factors and improvement of alpha angles were studied. A total of 948 patients were included in the analysis. RESULTS: More severe first status of the hips was associated with faster improvement in dynamic ultrasound compared to milder DDH in univariate design in first 3 months of age; in the multivariable design, Ortolani positivity was conversely associated with lower alpha angles in 1-month follow-up. Immediate abduction treatment was associated with faster recovery rate compared to delayed abduction or watchful waiting. Female sex and positive family history were associated with slower rate of improvement and lower alpha angles. In multivariable design, female sex, positive family history and treatment strategy remained statistically significant as initiation time of the treatment explained the first found association of clinical hip status and the recovery rate after 2 months of age. CONCLUSION: Female sex and positive family history might be independent risk factors for slower recovery in DDH before 6 months of age. These children might need special attention in their follow-up plans and abduction treatment.