Why is it important to screen for DDH early? Untreated DDH can affect the normal development of the hip joint. The earlier DDH is detected, the easier and more effective the treatment will be. Therefore, once symptoms and manifestations of DDH are detected, or if there are risk factors for DDH, children within 6 months of age can go to the neonatal orthopedic clinic for an ultrasound hip screening, and children over 6 months of age can go to the orthopedic clinic for a hip radiograph. What does the treatment of DDH include? If DDH is detected shortly after birth, the doctor will usually place the child in a Pavliks sling, which keeps the child’s thighs apart. This “little frog” position prevents the legs from straightening, which can lead to hip dislocation. Such a sling should be worn for a few weeks to a few months and monitored with regular reviews. If sling treatment is unsuccessful, your child will need to go to the hospital for further testing and surgical treatment. Intrusor release + closed cast fixation This method is used for children over 6 months of age, or in cases where Pavliks sling treatment has not been successful. Your child will need to receive an anesthetic under which the tendons in the groin area will be surgically released to some degree, usually minimally invasive, in order to put the hip joint in better alignment and prevent femoral head necrosis. The surgeon will then reset the child’s hip joint and once the reset is complete, the surgeon will place a frog position cast to keep the hip joint in the correct position. Whether the hip is in the correct position will be confirmed by MRI or CT after surgery. Such a cast needs to be maintained for 3 months. Resection and osteotomy Children older than 12 months usually need to undergo an osteotomy of the hip joint, and some older children need to undergo an osteotomy of the pelvis and upper femur. In older children, restoration of joint function and walking gait after surgery is more important.