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Baby Hip Clinic
Vale Healthcare's Baby Hip Clinic service, provides an ultrasound screening service for babies at risk of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.
This hip condition affects a significant number of children in the UK and refers to a spectrum of disease ranging from complete dislocation of the hip, through to some shallowness of the hip joint socket. If the condition is not identified then the child will have an increased risk of lifelong hip problems, which will usually require a hip replacement at a young age.
Although not life-threatening, the condition is hugely disabling in relation to quality of life. There are several NHS tests in place to try and pick up the problem however unfortunately there are no screening tests in place, and the existing examinations are not ideal as can be very difficult to perform on a young baby. As a result, the more subtle problems can be missed which often means significantly later detection of problems, and worsened long term outcome.
Hip ultrasound is the gold standard for detecting hip problems in children under 4 months. It is quick, safe and well-researched, and is a compulsory test for all babies in most European countries including Germany, Switzerland and Austria, although not currently in the UK as standard. As a result of the screening in these countries, the rate of later hip dislocation and disability is significantly reduced.
Vale Healthcare Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons’ Mr Phill Thomas and Mr Sandeep Hemmadi specialise in paediatric hip problems, and are delighted to now offer this screening service for babies under 4 months. The screening is available through both GP and self-referral routes, with GP referrals requiring the baby to be at ‘high-risk’ for this condition:
Risk factors include:
• Family history – any relative/sibling who has had a previous childhood hip problem
• Breech position of the child during pregnancy
• Oligohydramnios (low level of fluid in the womb during pregnancy)
• Foot abnormalities at birth
• First born, female sex
Please contact Vale Healthcare for more information about the Baby Hip Clinic service
029 2083 6714.
Baby Hip Clinic - what to do next
Locate the Baby Hip Clinic, situated within the Cardiff Bay Clinic
View our Baby Hip Clinic Frequently Asked Questions page
Make an enquiry about the Baby Hip Clinic
Key Terms :
- vale healthcare - baby hip clinic - ultrasound screening