Seeking Advice: Pavlik Harness on 2 Months Old with Congenital Hip Dysplasia

I work for an orthotic/prosthetic company and we dispense items like that. Where did you get it? You should be able to call them and go back and have them fix it/adjust it so that it does not harm the skin! HTH!!

M., your pediatrician did what a majority of docs do. Does she see a pediatric orthopedic doctor? She may have had a growth spurt and needs to be refitted or it could be she is chubbier in certain spots.She also could be moving and it is rubbing her skin. With the proper padding and fitting she should be fine. The pros definitely outweigh the cons with harness use. Does she have a wear schedule? Usually the doctor will tell you to let her wear it so many hours and then remove it for a specified time then reapply it. The time of wear is usually short in the beginning and increases until she wears it all day and off at night or vice versa. Do not be afraid to ask your questions to her doctor. I recommend writing them dowm because once you are at a visit ,you will forget most of them or be distracted and not get to ask them.

Hello! My son is 11 weeks old and just finished his time in a pavlik harness. He also had hip dysplasia. It was checked for in the hospital, which is now common practice to check all babies for this because it is so correctable if caught early. Our pediatrician noticed a "click" so he referred us to an pediatric orthopedic doctor (through UPMC). When he was 6 days old (January 29, 2009) he we went to the doctor and he was fitted with a pavlik harness. He wore it for 6 weeks 24 hours a day. We gave him sponge baths and did not remove it at all per the doctor's instructions. After the initial visit we went back after 2 weeks and it was improving so he loosened the straps. (He had a velcro harness.) Then after 4 more weeks we saw him again. Since his hip had improved he was weaned off the harness (he wore it just at night and 2 hours a day). After 2 weeks of that we were instructed for him not to wear the harness at all. This past Tuesday (March 31, 2009) we went for an ultrasound to see if his hip had "healed." It was 100% perfect. The doctor said the hip was "normal" and to resume all normal activities and no restrictions except he does not recommend swadddles that restrict leg movement and push the legs together for any babies, but especially for babies with hip dysplasia.
About your daughter's skin irritation... our son did have some chaffing, but we tried to minimize it by putting petroleum jelly behind his knees where it did not breathe a lot since that was a little sore and to dress him in onesie with high collars to help his neck.
I wish you all the best. I too had hip dysplasia. Back then the correction was a lot more difficult. I had to be in traction for a week and then a full lower body cast for three months. My mom was instructed not to pick me up for 3 months and leave me in the crib so when I went to the bathroom it could drain into a pan, but she couldn't do this so she modified with diapers. Thank goodness! Leaving a child in crib for three months would be torture for both mom and baby. I can't even remember which hip it is now. I run marathons and didn't even give it a second thought until my son was also diagnosed with it.
I think your daughter will be just fine. I know it is hard to go through. Hang in there. The time will fly. I wish you all the best. Please email if you need anything.

Hi M., your dr should be used to having to adjust those more than once. Don't feel bad at all about demanding that she be taken back in and adjusted.

I'm not sure about where you live and what is available but i would think you should be seeing a specialist and not just a pediatrician. Please ask for recommendations and be willing to drive to see someone who knows that they are doing.

My DD had developmental hip dysplasia diagnosed at her 12 month appointment. We went to two different pediatric orthopedists (both in NYC). One wanted her to wear the brace 23 hours a day for 12 weeks; the other said that was cruel and she would only have to wear it at night for 6 months. The second MD was one of those "NY Magazine Best Docs" and we just trusted him. So we went with that treatment, and within the year, voila, hip dysplasia was cured. She still has to follow up every year or so, but that treatment was just fine. She wore the brace over her pjs so it didn't rub- but I agree with pps that you should get it refit- it's probably too tight. Good luck and I promise, this will all be just a bad memory when she's running around!

Hi M.....
you have my prayers for a quick response to the harness! my baby was in a harness from 1-4 months of age. She was in the pavlik for 6 weeks then a more cumbersome brace (think it was called hewson) for another 12 weeks or so. it absolutely broke my heart! she was soooo miserable in that thing! my dd didn't really have any chafing issues w/it. i usually just dressed her in a onesie since it was summer time. are you putting it one over clothing? i never put the chest brace directly against her skin. if it's the leg one's bothering her did you try doing it over thin cotton pants? all i can say is that as hard as it is to see your baby uncomfortable, this is only short term and will hopefully prevent a serious surgury and time spent in a cast! so hang in there! the only other recommendation i have is in regards to sleeping. my baby stopped sleeping well when the harness/brace started. she seemed to do well sleeping in the bouncy chair. when i eventually put her back in the crib w/the hewson brace on, it helped to put a rolled up towel under her legs.
hang in there! i know it's tough! if you have any other questions, feel free to drop me a line

I don't know if this will be at all helpful, but my infant son's hip dysplasia was treated in Prague by the standard method there: just by keeping three cloth diapers folded up in thirds over his pamper 24 hours a day for several months. The ultrasound then showed that his hips were back on track. You can't just chuck the harness, of course, but it has to be adjusted, maybe with room to slide some soft fabric in there. I'm sure your baby will be fine once you get the kinks out of the system!

M.,

My daughter had hip dysplasia due to being breech. She was in a Pavlik at 1 1/2 months until 5 months. At first it was 24 hours a day for 6 weeks. It was hard at first but we got used to it. When she was 3 months we started weaning her off of it. At first it was off 2 hours every day for the first week then 4 hours the second week and so forth until she was 5 months. She had several ultrasounds before getting it on to make sure she needed it. Then at 6 weeks had another ultrasound to make sure her hips were "healing" in their correct position. Our Dr. was Dr. Mackenzie at AI Dupont. He was AWESOME! He was patient, answered all out questions and gave lots of info. Need I say more. It didn't seem to bother her much and now at 12 years old her hips are just where they need to be and she has had no problems with her hips. The Pavlik helped her tremendously. I would try finding a pediatric orthopedist. Here is the link to Dr. Mackenzie's website. http://findadoc.nemours.org/doctorbiography.act?id=667 His main office is in Wilmington, DE but he has other offices in Bryn Mawr and Newtown Square. I can't recommend him enough. You want to make sure she gets the care she needs now so in the future she won't have any problems. If you have any more questions feel free to contact me. ____@____.com Good Luck!

M.

I've treated adults (30-40 years old with hips like 65 year olds) with congenital hip dysplasia, so anything you can do to make her hip joints as normal as possible is going to allow her to be more active and have less pain as an adult. Is she being treated by a pediatric orthopedist? DuPont Hospital in Del is excellent with hip dysplasia. I'm sure CHOP is, too. I would talk to a ped ortho about having her brace better fitted so it can help her hip w/o damaging her skin. Best of luck.

Both of my kids had to wear the hip harness right from leaving the hospital. It was upsetting and a pain in the neck but needs to be done.My son was longer 3 or 4 months but my daughter was out of it quick maybe 6 weeks. It is so important though for their hips to develop and as ugly as the harness is they have to keep it on. You don't want your baby to have problems or need surgeries later in life. My kids were done and never had a problem since. good luck.

My daughter was born with hip dysplasia and had to wear a Pavlik harness too. I know it's heartbreaking to see your baby stuck in that crazy contraption. She had to wear it for several months last year and seemed very uncomfortable for awhile because she couldn't move around as well. As frustrating as it was, it did work and her hips got better.

I'm not sure where your daughter's Pavlik is rubbing. I always put a onesie and socks on under it Also, the straps are adjustable. Perhaps your doctor needs to readjust it. Since babes grow so quickly, our daughter had to be refitted every two weeks.

Just in case you're having trouble finding clothes to fit, we bought dresses that were one size bigger. That seemed to work well and actually covered up most of that ugly harness.

Hope this helps.

C.

Good Morning M.,
please stop cry'n. baby girl will get better.
I promise.
Now; I am unaware of Pavlik Harness for the hips ; henceforth , my daughter had dislocated hips @ birth in '1978'
The dr.s [ God love him ..he still treats my daughter] in 1978 believed in SURGERY to create PARRELL hips and FIX displacia ... NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
I fought the dr.'s all the way ... [ if my child had a life threating illness I would of had surgery ]
SOOOOO; plan ' B'
she had a great , easy to use , velcro hard plasic [ looked like a hard plastic pamper] IMOBILIZER on her waist, hips ... it was on her 24/7 .. than @ home thearpy
by turning her feet forward and knees etc ..
also, mommys used cloth DIAPERS so NO IRRATATION on baby girl .[ hint :, double diaper helps ]
slowly she was weaned .. only wore during day hours , than only wore sleep hours [ baby does the most damage as she sleeps] !!!!!!!! this is IMPORTANT KNOWLEDGE !!!!!!!!
1978 you did not have early intervention or p.t.
mommys were the dr.'s .
well my baby girl successfully craweled at 6 months , walked alot later [ due to turned knees and feet ] 18 months ... my dr. was soooo proud of me and my subborn ''momish' .. he than wrote a 'note' to the local dance school for her to attend ... [ 1978 you had to be in 'kindy -garden' to dance]!
well; children with hip dislocation are NATURAL PERFECT ballerinas !!!!!!!!!They are already in dance position #1 , 2 etc ... they can not face fwd. to simply stand & listen to teacher [ chuckle]
basicly , I found out my baby girl is pretty much double jointed ..
my baby girl walks perfect . my girly was made fun of because of her 'disability' , I kept working with her , people are mean ! .. she wore that 'cast' for 2 years ... hence, she can dance, she skis , she skate boards, she flips off swimming pools,rode a bike early, she has a sassy walk...
I NEVER HAD THE SURGERY ..
ps= my girly was soooo active ,that cast broke @ least 6 times , duct taped , diaper pinned , whatever .. KEEP BABY HEALTHY .. ask dr. and /or pt and /or go to a "MEDICAL STORE "[ YOUNGS , HARTZELLS] see what else they have for babies .. ask EVERYONE .. ASK ASK ASK ..
BABies come 1st.I am sure SOME CO. still would make something similar to the 1978 style .. GOOGLE THIS..
Mommy , It is important to keep an inmolbilizer on her
use a pamper and put a" cloth "diaper over it ..it will help w/ sores . anything ... I had to use my Imagination too way back in 1978 ...add foam to the harness hot glue it anything ...
ask daddy or grandpa to help re design to keep baby healthy .
good luck . I DO HOPE YOUR CHILD IS SEEING A SPECIALIST >>>THIS IS FOREVER> MY GIRLY IS 30 years old AND STILL SEES HER ORTHOPEDIC SURGEN >>>>>>
I do promise she will get better !!!!!
t

Hi All! I was wondering if the poster who mentioned the awesome NYC doc could email me at ____@____.com with the name. I am desperate! My infant son was in the Pavlik 24/7 for 3 months and now my doc is threatening surgery even tho he is improving. My doc also doesn't really tell us much and has been unpleasant all around. Desperately seeking a doc in the tri-state area or long island who is amazing! Thanks! I'll post a report for the other moms once I have a better grasp on our situation! Hang in there everyone!!