Back to the Hospital

Our newborn daughter R was diagnosed with developmental dysplasia of the hip just after she was born. She's been wearing a leg brace 24/7 ever since leaving the hospital. You can read my original post here. We had a follow up consultation with a pediatric orthopedic physician this morning that overall went very well.

From what I've learned, R has a very mild, perhaps even non-existent, case of DDH. The first doc said she has a slight hip click. In the left hip. Without checking the previous diagnoses, our specialist today said he thought he felt something. In the right hip. Barely. Oops. That leads me to believe that either in the right or the left hip, it's hardly there. He couldn't even pop her hip out of the socket today.

Our physician today said that you can't really take an x-ray to get hard evidence of the dysplasia until a child is 4 months old. So, to be on the safe side, he says to wear the brace full time for 3 more months (R is 1 month old now), then wear it part time for 3 more months after the x-ray. So, if there's no problems on the x-rays, it looks like we'll be done at about 7 months old.

Our doc told me he had this same thing happen with his child, and their family lasted 4 months wearing the brace, so I know there's some leeway. We don't have to be 100% hard core with the brace.

I actually think there isn't anything there anymore (if it ever even was there in the first place). Last week our pediatrician tested her hips and guessed that the ortho specialist would tell us today that her hip was healed and that we could take the brace off for good. He got my hopes up, but the devoted Mr. Garland helped me stay grounded by reminding me to wait and see what the specialist said today. My husband is so wise, esp. when I get caught up in excitement.

So, we're wearing the brace for a while longer. It's a hassle, but we know it's best for our daughter's hips. We'll report back after the x-ray is complete... thanks for your prayers for our babe!