Before we talk in detail about dysplasia and treatment, we would like to inform you that you can purchasePavlik stirrups on the website of the OLVI online store. What are stirrups for children and what are they for? This is a lightweight and comfortable device made of textiles and flannel fabric. There is a convenient table of sizes and ages, from birth to 9 months.
As usual, the doctor's verdict "hip dysplasia" in infants scares the mother much less than the need to put Pavlik stirrups on the baby.
Meanwhile, stirrups for dysplasia for several months are in most cases a successful attempt to avoid irreversible complications that are very likely to arise if stirrups are not put on - because you feel sorry for the baby. However, this very pity is not for the good.
What is hip dysplasia in newborns?
If your baby has already been diagnosed with this, you have probably asked your doctor a million questions and, if you have access to the Internet, have read dozens of articles on this topic. Therefore, you should hardly be burdened with smart words like abduction and adduction, reposition, etc. So let's try to be brief and simple.
Dysplasia of the hip joints (DHS), diagnosed in newborns, is not a disease in itself and can be corrected by using Pavlik stirrups, as one of the effective options. DHS is a defect in the development of the hip joint, when it is formed incorrectly or its formation is not complete, while it should have been by age. The head of the femur is not fixed in its place - in the glenoid (acetabulum) - and jumps out of it.
According to the position of the head relative to the acetabulum, there are three stages of dysplasia:
- pre-dislocation - the joint is not fully formed and therefore unstable,
- subluxation - the head of the femur is displaced upward to the side,
- dislocation - complete displacement of the head of the femur - the most severe form of hip dysplasia.
For congenital pathologies of the hip joint, the orthopedist also recommends the use of Pavlik stirrups.
What happens if you do not treat hip dysplasia in a newborn?
Abnormal development of the hip joint - and this is what will follow if the diagnosis of hip dysplasia is ignoring - inevitably causes a disorder of the musculoskeletal system. This is lameness, difference in leg length, often the impossibility of normal physical activity, and pain, endless pain when moving.
How to determine dysplasia in a child?
Of course, an orthopedic doctor will make a definitive and accurate diagnosis. However, if you suspect that the baby's hip joints are developing incorrectly, you can try to conduct a test examination at home yourself.
- Checking the folds for symmetry. Lay the baby on his tummy and carefully compare the folds on his legs and buttocks. They should be strictly at the same level - fold to fold.
- In the supine position, compare the length of his legs - align them with the heels. You should not see a difference.
- See how easily you can spread the baby's legs apart, bending them at the knees. You should not encounter resistance, and your knees should easily touch the surface of the table or changing table.
If you have any doubts about any of these points, be sure to consult an orthopedist. After all, it is very important to recognize dysplasia before the age of six months - the most informative will be an ultrasound examination of the joint. If the diagnosis is made when the baby has already crossed the six-month mark, the DTS will take much longer to treat, and the recovery period may last not several months, but several years. In cases where dysplasia is diagnosed after the first steps, the disease threatens to become chronic.
Pavlik's stirrups - salvation
This is exactly how a mother should think about Pavlik's stirrups, the pros and cons should be discarded, along with pitiful complaints about how uncomfortable it is in stirrups. Believe me, the baby is much less uncomfortable than you imagine, drawing terrible pictures of an immobilized child with legs spread apart.
You see, the baby does not walk or sit yet, he does not know any other position except horizontal, and he does not understand that you are limiting him in anything. Therefore, do not worry that it is difficult, or hard, or painful for him in stirrups. Uncomfortable - yes, but you can't imagine how quickly children, with their direct perception of the world, adapt.
How to care for a baby in Pavlik stirrups?
The first time hip bandage the doctor will put it on the baby, tighten the flexion and abduction straps to the desired level, setting marks, and also explain in detail how to put on Pavlik stirrups, whether it is possible to remove the stirrups (which is not recommended) and in what cases this can be done. To reach the desired angle of abduction of the hip joints, you need to visit an orthopedist several times - to correct the position of the joints.
Important! Cold and a feeling of hunger or anxiety reduce the elasticity of muscles and tendons, which can make it difficult to spread the legs to the recommended level. Pay attention to the period of adaptation of the joints: if you spread them not gradually, but too abruptly, it is possible to cause an inflammatory process (symptoms: temperature up to 38, swelling in the groin area, restless sleep), in this case, until it subsides, the treatment will have to be interrupted, and then start all over again.
Today's stirrups are sewn from soft fabric - to match the delicate skin of the baby, because under the device there should be nothing but a disposable diaper - no rompers, no shorts, no pants. A light undershirt is allowed.
When changing your baby's diaper, never lift the baby by the legs, as you did before. Place your hand under the buttocks and gently lift the baby in this way only.
Unfasten the strap of the chest bandage during feeding and do not fasten it for about an hour after eating.
Make sure that there is no redness on the baby's skin, however, if the Pavlik stirrups are used correctly, chafing should not occur.
Some practical advice
The stirrups should ALWAYS be dry! Therefore, it is convenient to buy two pairs of stirrups and change them immediately after bathing - wet fabric will definitely chafe the baby's skin in places of contact. And by putting on dry stirrups, tightening the stirrups to the desired mark, you will save the baby from discomfort.
In cool weather, put on wide sleeping bags or envelopes over the stirrups - this clothing is the most comfortable.
Remember that a child perceives stirrups much more courageously than a mother (even if the stirrups are for a girl :)
You should not be afraid that a fidget, bound by stirrups against his will, will lag behind in development - these worries are completely in vain!
When meeting "kind" people who inadequately react to the baby's situation and loudly pity him, try not to enter into unnecessary polemics and retreat as quickly as possible. You yourself know the main thing - you are now helping your baby get healthy legs, which will very soon run skipping along green lawns. We will be glad if our advice and recommendations help you.
In addition to bandages and stirrups, our store has a wide range of products for small feet - massage mats, orthopedic insoles and, of course, shoes.
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