Baby Hip Health Week 2012
As part of Baby Hip Health Week 2012 (10th – 17th
March), the national charity STEPS is calling for parents and
professionals to learn how to swaddle their babies correctly to help
prevent hip dysplasia.
A top children’s surgeon says the return of an
“eradicated” practice of tightly wrapping babies in blankets to keep
them warm and help them sleep is causing a rise in hip problems.
Professor Nicholas Clarke, a consultant orthopaedic
surgeon at Southampton General Hospital, says the unsafe form of
swaddling – which had almost completely disappeared by the end of the
1980s – is being increasingly adopted by mothers, with some websites
selling tight ‘swaddlers’ claiming they can help tackle colic.
He warned the trend is leading to more cases of hip
dysplasia – where the hips are loosened by mothers’ hormones which
relax ligaments during birth – as forcibly straightening the legs within
the first three to four months of life means babies who would otherwise
recover naturally are unable to freely flex and strengthen weakened
joints, making surgery essential.
“This form of swaddling used to be very commonly
used across the world but, with the help of major educational programmes
such as the one used to eliminate the problem in Japan in the 1980s, it
was all but eradicated and cases reduced drastically,” said Prof
Clarke, who spoke out as part of the STEPS charity’s Baby Hip Health
Week 2012.
“Now, I and my colleagues across the UK and in
America are witnessing its revival, with swaddlers being advertised on
the internet that tightly wrap babies. For the hips, that is exactly
what you don’t want to happen.”
Up to 100 babies are screened at Southampton
General Hospital’s hip clinic every week – around one in every 20
full-term babies has some level of instability – and swaddling-related
incidences are increasing.
Although treatment, which involves fitting a
harness to keep the legs bent up day and night for six weeks, is
successful in 85% of babies, some will suffer permanent damage.
“While many cases of hip dysplasia are down to
genetics or other conditions, swaddling is becoming an increasingly
prevalent cause once again and that is extremely frustrating because it
is something parents can control, yet only last week a mother brought
her baby to my clinic tightly wrapped.”
Although keen not to discourage safe techniques,
Prof Clarke, who is also a professor of orthopaedic surgery at the
University of Southampton, believes parents are no longer distinguishing
between what is right and what presents a danger to their babies.
“I
advocate swaddling in the right and safe way, which means ensuring
babies are not rigidly wrapped but have enough room to bend their legs –
they don’t need to have their legs straightened as there is plenty of
time to stretch before they start to walk,” he explained.
“But, and this is worrying the orthopaedic
community, it seems to be increasingly fashionable among parents to
follow the re-emerging trend of tight swaddling.”
Prof Clarke, who last year revealed one in five
children assessed in his clinic for bone problems were suffering from
poverty-linked Victorian bone disease rickets due to vitamin D
deficiency, is now calling for the relaunch of an awareness campaign to
address the problems.
He added: “We need to focus on ensuring the years
of hard work and effort made by thousands of clinicians across the world
to drive out tight swaddling is not unravelled in a matter of months
and that means stepping in immediately.”
In addition, as part of the newborn infant physical
examination programme (NIPE) every baby gets their hips checked at
birth and the six to eight week check. However, most parents and health
professionals do not realise the implications if a problem with the hips
is not picked up as the tests are not 100% accurate.
Even if the hips appear to be normal it is
important to be aware of signs that might mean there is a problem. The
signs parents should look out for include:
-
one leg appearing shorter than the other
-
an extra deep crease on the inside of the thigh
-
crawling with one leg dragging or walking with a limp or a waddle.
Whilst these signs are not conclusive, they may indicate the need for further investigation.
If you are concerned your child has a hip problem
please seek advice from your GP or Health Visitor immediately since
treatment is usually less complex the earlier it is started.
HELP US TO HELP OTHER PARENTS LIKE YOU:-
- Host a 'Put the Kettle on' fundraising event
whereby you hold a tea/coffee morning at home, work or in the community
to spread the word about baby hip health and help raise vital funds at
the same time
- Distribute the STEPS award winning leaflet on Baby Hip Health to your local surgery or clinic
- Get your story featured in a local magazine or
newspaper to raise awareness. Alternatively send us your story and we
will try and get media coverage for you.
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Anyone wishing to get further advice, tell their story to the media, distribute leaflets or wanting to host a
"Put the Kettle on" event, please contact the STEPS Helpline on
01925 750271 or email
info@steps-charity.org.uk Also please take a look at our website section about
Baby Hip Health Awareness
