Hip Dysplasia or Hip Dislocation

Why is Dr. Fradkin doing weird dancing movements with our baby’s legs? No, I am not teaching baby their first Jazzercise lessons during those first few well visits. I am making sure that baby’s hips and leg bones are in the right alignment and baby does not have hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia in babies occurs with the head of the femur (thigh bone) is not sitting or aligned properly in the hip joint. This is a big deal for many reasons, but primarily the hip joint will not develop well if it does not have the head of the femur within that joint to give it signals over time to make a good hip joint. Female babies that are born or present breech are at a higher risk for hip dysplasia. So oftentimes if a baby is born or presenting breech, their pediatrician will have them get a hip ultrasound to make sure everything is in the right spot before that baby is 6 months of age. After 6 months of age, we use a hip X-ray to evaluate where the bones are and are not if there is concern about hip dysplasia. 

If baby does have hip dysplasia, they will be seen by an orthopedic (bone) doctor who will fit the baby in these neat pants/suspenders that will keep the hips and femurs aligned in the right spot for a few months to make sure the hips develop like they should.