The efficacy of semirigid hip orthosis in the delayed treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip

This study assessed the use of semirigid hip orthosis to stabilize the femoral head into the acetabulum in the delayed treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH; Graf type IIb or more severe) under the age of 6 months. Ninety-eight hips from 75 patients (four boys, 71 girls) were evaluated retrospectively. The mean age at treatment initiation was 3.2± 1.3 months (1–6 months).

As the dysplastic hip matured into a type I hip, we applied the weaning regimen for 1 month. Seventy-two patients (96%) were treated successfully in 4.2± 1.1 months (2–8 months). All of the failures were type IV hips. We did not detect any acetabular or femoral head pathology in the later follow-up. Semirigid hip orthosis is safe and effective as the first-line treatment method for delayed DDH except in type IV hips in patients under 6 months of age.