Clicking Hips

Clicking Hips

`Clicking hip' refers to the sound and sensation felt on examining the hip joint of a young baby, if the hip is dislocated.

The condition, present at birth, is medically termed CDH, congenital dislocation of the hip. About 1,000 babies are born in Britain each year with CDH, with the condition being more common in baby girls, first born babies, and breech deliveries.

Every baby should be screened soon after birth by a paediatrician for CDH, because if left undiagnosed, deformities and problems will arise in later years.

Babies with CDH have a poorly formed hip joint socket so that the head of the thigh bone does not rest deeply or correctly in the hip bone.

Nothing can be seen externally to indicate that there is anything wrong. Detection can be demonstrated in a 1 minute specific examination technique of the hip joint. However, some `clicking hips' are not that easy to diagnosis, with 4 out of 10 affected newborns going undetected.

Early treatment is simple. Although awkward for child and parents to cope with, it involves 2 to 3 months in a splint to usually produce complete cure. Undiagnosed CDH shows itself later, when the child starts to walk with an obvious limp. By this time major surgery will be needed, with some cases facing the possibility of arthritis of the hip in early adulthood.

Some `clicking hips' may not even be congenital, but only become obvious later. This is why GP's and health visitors are asked to retest at about 6 weeks, and again between 6 to 9 months. At this age, an inability to move the thigh to the side as result of muscle tightness, may be the only sign.

Early detection of CDH in the future may no longer depend on the `clunk or click' of an affected hip joint, but more on using ultrasound techniques. However, some hospital trusts may find this financially prohibitive!
IMPORTANT NOTICE : This content is from the Dr Chris Steele personal archive and is provided for convenience only. Information contained here may no longer agree with the most up to date medical advice. Please check with a medical professional before taking any action.

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