Paediatric Developmental Hip Dysplasia – A GP update

The aim of this session will be to provide education on developmental hip dysplasia (DDH) clinics at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Western Health. As well as the advanced practice physiotherapist’s role in the DDH clinics, how DDH is diagnosed, assessed and managed, and referral pathways for GPs.

Developmental hip dysplasia (DDH) describes a spectrum of abnormalities that affect the neonatal and infant hip joint. The central process is a disruption of the normal anatomical relationship that exists between the femoral head and acetabulum. This relationship is imperative, as it is the dynamic association of these two structures that provides the necessary stimulus for normal development of the joint in the first few months of life. 

Treatment of DDH is completed at specialised orthopaedic services in physiotherapy-led DDH clinics. The role of the GP is to identify babies at risk of DDH, or with an abnormal clinical examination of the hips and refer appropriately for medical imaging and/or to paediatric orthopaedic services for specialist treatment.  

This session will: 

• provide an overview of DDH in infant 
• identify the risk factors for DDH and when to screen for DDH 
• explain the assessment and management of DDH at Western Health 
• provide an overview of the physiotherapy-led DDH clinic at Western Health – how to refer, the inclusion/exclusion criteria and referral pathways for GPs 
• explain the role of advanced practice physiotherapists and orthopaedics in the management of DDH 
• provide access to resources available in the community to support GPs in screening for DDH and referring appropriately.  

Speakers

Amelia Marshall - Advanced Practice Physiotherapist, Western Health

Amelia is an advanced practice physiotherapist with a specialist certificate in paediatric, orthopaedic physiotherapy. Amelia is currently working at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital at Western Health. These clinics involve management of babies and infants with DDH, congenital talipes equinovarus,casting clinic and postural variants. Amelia graduated from physiotherapy in 2013 and has specialised in paediatrics since 2018, completing her specialist certificate in paediatric orthopaedic physiotherapy in 2019.  

Chris Harris - Paediatric Orthopaedic Consultant, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne and Western Health

Chris is a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon who completed his medical and orthopaedic training in the UK. Chris completed fellowships in limb reconstruction, trauma and paediatric orthopaedics in Melbourne and the US.. Chris works at both the Royal Children’s Hospital and Western Health, and manages both children and adults, and has a special interest in limb reconstruction and skeletal dysplasia.. At Western Health Chris manages children with DDH from early infancy into adolescence.  

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this activity, participants will be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the pathophysiology of developmental hip dysplasia (DDH) 
• identify the risk factors for DDH and screening using most appropriate medical imaging modality based on the age of the child. 
• demonstrate a basic understanding of the assessment and management options for DDH. 
• identifying referral pathways to the DDH clinic at Western Health.