Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Observation vs. Bracing

Comparison of Brace to Observation in Stable, Radiological Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: A Multi-centre, International Randomized Controlled Non-inferiority Trial

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is the most common childhood hip condition. When caught early, bracing is the most frequently used treatment; however, the brace can disrupt important mother-baby bonding time in the newborn period and present challenges to daily living. In babies with mild DDH, some studies have suggested that their hips may improve naturally as they grow and develop. This study will look at whether careful monitoring can be just as good as bracing for babies diagnosed with mild DDH less than 3 months of age, potentially avoiding unnecessary treatment. This will be the first study to look at this question with babies being treated at different hospitals in seven different countries, so the results will make an impact on children and families worldwide.

Early detection of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is critical to optimize outcomes and minimize long-term disability and impact on quality of life for the child and family. The burden of disease is significant, with a DDH diagnosis in 15-20/1000 live births. Even when treated, DDH is a leading cause of early hip replacement or development of osteoarthritis in young adults, with DDH reportedly accounting for 10-92% of all hip replacements. Consideration must also be given, however, to potential overtreatment of infants, particularly in more mild cases of hip instability or radiological dysplasia. The hip joint is immature during infancy, and many cases of mild-to-moderate DDH can spontaneously resolve as the hip joint matures through development. Brace treatment for approximately six weeks is common to address this radiological dysplasia; however, it is unclear whether this approach provides significant benefit above careful observation by ultrasound. While a conservative, less costly approach, brace treatment is not without potential complications and drawbacks. There are still substantial healthcare costs and resources associated with brace treatment, but there is potentially an under-recognized psychosocial cost in regard to preventing or disrupting mother-infant bonding in the newborn period. Coping with the difficulties of brace treatment can be stressful for families, particularly mothers of newborns, but the ultimate psychosocial impact has been under-researched to date. There is evidence to suggest that events occurring during establishment of breastfeeding may impact the mother's ability to breastfeed. The UK Hip Trial (2005) also found that maternal anxiety and worries about their infant's hip were increased with early brace treatment, but were not elevated by ultrasound monitoring in isolation. Further, bracing can present challenges to daily family life, including dressing, mobility, and the need for specialized furniture, car seats and other equipment. If observation alone is non-inferior to bracing for radiological dysplasia, unnecessary treatment may be avoided, potentially decreasing both the psychosocial impact of disrupted mother-infant bonding and needed healthcare resources and costs. The investigators propose to utilize the existing collaborations and infrastructure of the Global Hip Dysplasia Registry (GHDR) and leverage their collaboration with a group in the Netherlands performing a similar Treatment with Active Monitoring (TRAM) trial to determine whether observation alone is sufficient for infants with clinically stable radiologically abnormal hips. Specifically, the investigators aim to: Determine whether observation is non-inferior to bracing for infants with radiological dysplasia Provide a strong recommendation for management of this subset of DDH patients Compare findings to those of the Netherlands trial, which is being carried out in older patients (10-16 weeks at diagnosis) This study will utilize the established infrastructure of the GHDR. GHDR was established in 2016, aimed at collecting longitudinal data on infants and children across the entire DDH spectrum. This specific trial will function as a targeted sub-study within the more extensive registry, and is a multi-centre, international prospective randomized non-inferiority trial designed to evaluate the necessity to treat infants with radiological hip dysplasia. In total, 14 of the centres currently contributing data to GHDR have agreed to participate and randomize eligible patients.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip, Hip Dysplasia, Hip Dysplasia, Congenital, Hip Dysplasia, Developmental

Patients randomized to the brace treatment group will be treated with a Pavlik harness for a minimum of six weeks.

The Pavlik harness is an abduction brace used for treatment of hip dysplasia in infants. It keeps the hips in proper alignment to allow for appropriate growth and development of the joint.

This angle is measured via ultrasound and refers to the angle between the acetabular roof and vertical cortex of the ilium.

This angle is measured via ultrasound and refers to the angle formed between the vertical cortex of the ilium and the triangular labral fibrocartilage (echogenic triangle).

Measured via ultrasound and assesses the percentage of the femoral epiphysis covered by the acetabular roof.

Including development of femoral nerve palsy or avascular necrosis, progression of hip dysplasia, and need for further treatment.

A survey assessing parent/guardian perceptions of caring for and bonding with their child. Each question is scored on a 7-point likert scale from 3 (strongly agree) to -3 (strongly disagree) with total scores ranging from 33 to -33.

A survey assessing parent quality of life. Only the VAS portion of the questionnaire will be asked at each visit. The VAS is scored from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating better health.

Parent/guardian reported questionnaire to collect information about visits to health care professionals, imaging, medication use, additional treatments related to the diagnosis of DDH, and out of pocket costs.

To be assessed for participants who elect to take part in the Global Hip Dysplasia Registry and have available data. Measured on x-ray, it is the angle formed between the vertical axis of the pelvis and a line from the centre of the femoral head to the lateral edge of the acetabulum.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients presenting with radiological dysplasia of a clinically stable hip under three months (12 weeks) of age Radiological dysplasia will be defined as a centred hip with an alpha angle between 43 and 60 degrees and a percent coverage of the femoral head (FHC) greater than 35 and less than 50, as measured on ultrasound exam Exclusion Criteria: Patients presenting with radiological dysplasia older than three months (12 weeks) of age Patients presenting with clinical hip instability (Ortolani or Barlow positive) or findings of ultrasound instability with a stress test upon transverse view Patients with known or suspected neuromuscular, collagen, chromosomal or lower-extremity congenital abnormalities or syndromic-associated hip abnormalities Patients who received prior treatment (i.e. Pavlik harness) for DDH